Title: “Dracula Film “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” Sinks at Box Office Amid “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” Success”
Date: [Insert Date]
In a disappointing debut at the domestic box office, Universal’s period horror film “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” is struggling to stay afloat amidst the continued success of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” The movie, Universal’s second attempt at a Dracula film this year, earned $2.62 million on its opening day from 2,715 locations, including $750,000 from Thursday previews. Projections indicate that “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” will debut in fifth place and make a mere $6.5 million over its three-day opening weekend.
Despite having a moderate production budget of $45 million, it seems unlikely that “The Last Voyage” will achieve theatrical success. The film has received lackluster reviews, with a disappointing 27% approval rating from top critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Audience reception has also been mediocre, as reflected by Cinema Score’s survey of early ticket buyers, which resulted in a “B-” grade.
Based on a chapter from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” tells the story of a merchant ship and its crew caught in the grasp of a vampire. Directed by André Øvredal (“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark”), the film features Corey Hawkins, Aisling Franciosi, Liam Cunningham, and David Dastmalchian.
While “The Last Voyage” struggles to find its footing, “Barbie” continues to dominate the box office. Warner Bros.’ fantasy comedy is projected to have added $31.4 million from 4,178 locations in its fourth weekend, experiencing only a 41% drop from the previous frame. Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” recently surpassed $1 billion globally, making Gerwig the first-ever solo female filmmaker to achieve this milestone. Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, the hot-pink comedy is expected to become Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing release of all time in North America, potentially surpassing “The Dark Knight’s” record of $534 million.
In addition to “Barbie,” Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” continues to perform well at the box office. The Universal biographical drama earned $5.1 million from 3,761 theaters on Friday, experiencing a 39% decline from the previous weekend. Projections estimate that “Oppenheimer” will bring in $17.2 million for the weekend, resulting in total domestic ticket sales of $262 million.
Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures’ “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” earned $4 million from 3,950 locations on its second Friday, indicating a 56% decline from its debut. The animated feature, produced by Nickelodeon Movies and Point Grey Productions, is expected to achieve a three-day weekend gross of $14.6 million, bringing its domestic total to over $71.6 million.
Unfortunately, “Meg 2: The Trench” is also facing rough waters at the domestic box office. Projections indicate a disappointing $11.8 million from 3,604 theaters for its second outing, marking a significant 60% drop from its $30 million opening weekend. This decline already pales in comparison to the $45 million domestic debut of its 2018 predecessor.
As summer blockbuster season winds down, “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” has encountered early turbulence in its box office journey. With “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” enjoying continued success, this anachronistic genre film faces an uphill battle to find its audience and achieve significant box office success.