Paramount’s “Mean Girls” musical earned a grool $33.2 million from 3,791 theaters over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, beating expectations.
Based on the Broadway adaptation of the 2004 comedy classic, “Mean Girls” was originally commissioned with plans to skip theaters and make a streaming debut directly on Paramount+, but executives opted for a theatrical release after test screenings. The musical film cost just $36 million.
The new “Mean Girls” stars Angourie Rice as Cady Heron, a role originated by Lindsay Lohan, who must navigate the social scene of her new high school ruled by the Plastics. Reneé Rapp reprises her Broadway role as queen bee Regina George, with a cast that also includes Bebe Wood, Avantika, Jaquel Spivey, Auli’i Cravalho and original stars Tim Meadows and producer-writer Tina Fey.
Paramount intentionally downplayed the song-and-dance numbers in promotional materials for the movie musical, which earned a “B” grade through research firm Cinema Score.
“To start off saying musical, musical, musical, you have the potential to turn off audiences,” Marc Weinstock, the studio’s president of global marketing, told Variety. “I want everyone to be equally excited.”
The oh-so-pink “Mean Girls” came in ahead of Amazon MGM’s “The Beekeeper,” which nabbed $19 million over the four-day frame and landed a “B+” grade on Cinema Score.
The David Ayer-directed conspiracy actioner stars Jason Statham as Adam Clay, a former espionage expert of a mysterious organization known as Beekeepers, who embarks on a revenge mission. Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons, Emmy Raver-Lampman and Minnie Driver also star.
Sony and Legendary Pictures’ “The Book of Clarence” crossed off only $3 million from 2,010 locations in its holiday opening weekend. It’s a rough start for the biblical satire, which carries a $40 million production budget.
Directed by Jeymes Samuel, “The Book of Clarence” stars LaKeith Stanfield as a down-on-his-luck man who becomes a Messiah for his own personal gain. The film, which premiered at last fall’s London Film Festival, landed a “B” grade on Cinema Score.
