The 15th anniversary of Coraline had a significant impact at the domestic box office, landing at number 5 with a weekend gross of $8.63 million. The film, released on 1,603 screens, had a cumulative total of $11.6 million, breaking its previous record for Fathom Events. This stop-motion animated feature by Henry Selick became the distributor’s highest-grossing classic, grossing over $7 million at the box office over four days. Coraline originally debuted in 2009 with an opening weekend gross of $16.8 million, ultimately earning $75.3 million domestically and $127 million globally.
Coraline, a PG-rated film based on the popular 2002 book by Neil Gaiman, follows the story of a young girl named Coraline who discovers an alternate version of her life after walking through a secret door in her new house. Initially, this new reality appears to be better than her real life, but as the story unfolds, Coraline faces dangerous challenges and counterfeit parents, including the sinister Other Mother voiced by Teri Hatcher. Coraline must rely on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to escape and find her way back home. The film is currently showing in theaters in both 3D and 2D formats through August 22nd.
In addition to Coraline, several other films made their mark at the box office. Prathyangira Cinemas’ Stree 2, a Hindi supernatural comedy horror film by Amar Kaushik, saw a successful three-day weekend with $2.18 million at 666 locations and a cumulative total of $2.57 million. This sequel, based on an urban legend about a malevolent witch, became one of the biggest openings in India this year. Roadside Attraction’s My Penguin Friend, a PG-rated family comedy inspired by a true story, debuted with over $1 million at 1,080 theaters. The film tells the heartwarming tale of a lost penguin forming a bond with a fisherman.
Focus Features’ award-winning film, D&I, expanded into additional markets in its fourth week, boasting positive scores from both audiences and critics. Sundance audience Award-winner, the film has earned an estimated $700k over the weekend and a total of $2.7M to date. IFC Films’ Skincare and Republic Pictures’ Rob Peace also saw successful openings, with strong performances in select markets. Sing Sing by A24 and CatVideoFest 2024 by Oscilloscope continued to draw audiences, with the latter reaching the $500k milestone in record time.
Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic, the box office continues to show signs of recovery with a diverse range of films attracting audiences. From heartwarming family comedies to supernatural horror sequels, the film industry remains resilient in the face of adversity. As more audiences return to theaters, the diverse range of offerings ensures that there is something for everyone. With strong critical reception and positive word-of-mouth, films like Coraline and its counterparts are paving the way for a brighter future in cinema.