Title: Disney’s “A Haunting in Venice” Exceeds Expectations with Strong Friday Box Office Opening
Subtitle: Kenneth Branagh’s latest adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel shows promise with impressive numbers
Date: [Insert date]
Disney’s latest release, “A Haunting in Venice,” directed by Kenneth Branagh and part of the 20th Century Studios portfolio, has made a surprisingly strong start at the box office. The film, which is the third installment in Branagh’s adaptations of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot mysteries, is expected to earn $14M over the three-day weekend, with a Friday opening of $5.3M, including previews.
While “A Haunting in Venice” falls slightly short of the $28.6M opening of 2017’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” it surpasses last year’s “Death on the Nile,” which opened with $12.8M. The film is currently playing in 3,305 theaters.
Unfortunately, social media buzz for “A Haunting in Venice” is not as strong as anticipated, according to RelishMix. With a social media reach of 79.1M, the film is performing 59% below average for horror films and previous Agatha Christie adaptations. Nevertheless, the campaign has attracted the attention of fans who are eager to see how the horror genre mixes with the iconic murder mystery of Hercule Poirot. There is some skepticism around the film’s dim cinematography and references to past disappointments in Agatha Christie adaptations, but overall, curiosity seems to prevail.
In comparison to other films in theaters, “A Haunting in Venice” looks set to outperform the second weekend of New Line’s horror film, “The Nun 2,” which is estimated to earn $12.8M, a 61% decline from its opening weekend. Sony’s “The Equalizer 3” continues to hold strong in its third weekend, expected to earn $7.3M, while Focus Features’ “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3” is projected to earn $4M in its second weekend. Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” remains in theaters for its ninth weekend, raking in $3.6M, and claiming the 11th spot as the highest-grossing movie ever at the domestic box office, surpassing “The Avengers.”
The early outlook for “A Haunting in Venice” seems positive, with Branagh’s film gaining favorable reviews compared to his previous Poirot adaptations. Rotten Tomatoes currently rates the film at 77% certified fresh, higher than “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Death on the Nile,” which received ratings of 61%. Although it lacks the star power of “Murder on the Orient Express,” featuring only Branagh, Michelle Yeoh, and Tina Fey, “A Haunting in Venice” has the advantage of being Branagh’s best-reviewed Poirot film to date.
With a solid opening and positive reviews, “A Haunting in Venice” has a chance to dominate the weekend box office if “The Nun 2” experiences a significant drop in earnings. Playing in 3,305 theaters with added Imax and PLF ticket sales, the film has received favorable comparisons to similar releases, such as “Doctor Sleep,” “Red Sparrow,” and “Ticket to Paradise.”
Although the success of “A Haunting in Venice” remains to be seen, it has certainly made an impressive start and could add another successful chapter to Branagh’s career as both an actor and director.