Star Wars Day, famously known as May the Fourth Be with You, evolved into a multi-day celebration for enthusiasts of the iconic saga.
While Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s action-packed film, The Fall Guy, seized the top spot at the box office, a surprising contender emerged with the 25th-anniversary screenings of Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace.
Director David Leitch’s homage to the stunt profession, The Fall Guy, performed admirably, yet fell short of reaching the upper end of its projected earnings. Initially forecasted to rake in between $20 million and $40 million, the romantic action comedy settled comfortably into the middle ground, earning an estimated $28.5 million domestically.
Internationally, The Fall Guy found more success, accumulating $36.9 million, contributing to a global total of $65.4 million. However, this figure remains modest compared to the film’s substantial $140 million budget, which excludes marketing expenses.
The Phantom Menace Remains a Force to Be Reckoned With
Despite not ranking as the pinnacle of the Star Wars franchise, The Phantom Menace retained its dominance at the box office, securing the second position with $8.1 million. Celebrating the saga’s enduring legacy, special screenings of Episode I gripped fans, underscoring its enduring appeal.
In addition to The Fall Guy and The Phantom Menace, other contenders vied for attention. Zendaya’s Challengers maintained its momentum, Luca Guadagnino’s romantic sports drama secured the third spot, while the horror genre found success with the debut of Tarot, claiming the fourth position. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire rounded off the top five with $4.5 million.
Meanwhile, in limited releases, A24’s I Saw the TV Glow emerged triumphant, boasting the highest per-theater average. Overseas, The Garfield Movie starring Chris Pratt opened to a promising start, foreshadowing a strong domestic release over the Memorial Day weekend.
