Following weeks of Ryan Gosling engaging in parkour, singing along to songs about heartbreak, and dropping hints about Ken, The Fall Guy finally makes its debut in cinemas... to a disappointing reception.
According to Comscore, the Universal action comedy started off the summer movie box office with a lackluster $28.5 million opening domestically. Despite securing the top spot for the weekend, its performance didn't improve much internationally, where it garnered $25.4 million, resulting in a global total of $65.4 million.
Gosling takes on the role of Colt Seavers in The Fall Guy, portraying a weathered stuntman who returns to action to rescue a film directed by his former partner. Directed by David Leitch, known for his work on John Wick and Deadpool 2, the movie generated significant anticipation. Gosling's recent Oscar-nominated portrayal as Barbie's Ken added to the buzz, and he is joined by Emily Blunt, who continues to bask in the acclaim from Oppenheimer.
With the anticipation fueled by the prospect of an adrenaline-fueled thriller and the undeniable star power of the Barbenheimer duo, the film debuted amidst high expectations. Beyond the excitement of action sequences and playful nods to the movie-making world, audiences were eagerly awaiting a captivating romance between the two leads. "Their chemistry is as palpable as depicted in the trailer," Leitch shared with EW. "It's simply undeniable."
This weekend, The Fall Guy encountered minimal competition at the box office, with an unexpected yet familiar contender taking second place: Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace. Marking its 25th anniversary, the prequel attracted fans from all corners, raking in $8.1 million domestically upon its theatrical re-release, resulting in a global gross of $14.4 million.
In 1999, the movie marked the beginning of George Lucas' polarizing Star Wars prequel trilogy. Initially met with mixed reviews, the film has seen a resurgence in appreciation in recent times, particularly following the expansion of the franchise's lore, notably with Ewan McGregor reprising his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in his own Disney+ series in 2022. The re-release of the film in theaters not only commemorates its anniversary but also coincides perfectly with the unofficial Star Wars holiday of May the 4th.
Meanwhile, Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor maintain their stronghold on social media and the box office, securing an additional $7 million domestically, bringing their global earnings to $52 million.
The sultry thriller directed by Luca Guadagnino delves into a intricate love triangle involving three tennis players, laden with intense tension and years of romantic entanglement.
In fourth place, we have "Tarot," a horror film that revolves around a group of friends who inadvertently unleash a malevolent force by meddling with a cursed deck of tarot cards. The movie grossed $6.5 million domestically, along with an extra $3.7 million from international markets, bringing its global earnings to $10.2 million. The film's debut is particularly noteworthy given its low production cost of just $8.
"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" maintains its position in the top five during its sixth week in theaters, adding another $4.5 million to its impressive total of $188 million domestically, with a global haul of $546 million.