Deadline reports that Sony’s sequel Jumanji: The Next Level is looking to file a $40M+ opening when the pic hits theaters on Dec. 13. Moviegoing typically doesn’t explode until after Christmas Day, which falls on a Wednesday this year; the Star Wars pics being the exception to that marketplace rule. So, these projections might appear a little damper than you might expect.
Back in 2017, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle went in the immediate wake of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, opening on a Wednesday and playing straight into Christmas Day, with a FSS of $36.1M, a 5-day of $52.8M and 6-day including Dec. 25 of $71.9M. The pic off its FSS figure did a whopping 11x multiple. This time, it’s boldly going before Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker which opens on Dec 20. Jungle proved to be strong counter-programming in the wake of a giant, thanks to its hysterical concept of mixed up avatars in the the wrong bodies, and the confidence is that leg-out magic can occur again with the holiday play period arguably lasting all the way to MLK weekend. Jungle director Jake Kasdan returns with Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan with Danny DeVito, Danny Glover and Awkwafina along for the ride.
