‘Project Hail Mary’ Targets $50M Debut, ‘Ready or Not 2’ Aims for $11M
El-Balad reports on the exciting upcoming film releases set for March 20, 2024. Two significant projects in focus are Amazon MGM Studios’ “Project Hail Mary” and Searchlight’s “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.” Both films aim to capture substantial box office revenue during a strategic release window.
Project Hail Mary Targets $50M Debut
“Project Hail Mary,” with a whopping $150 million budget, is anticipating a strong opening, projected at around $50 million in North America. This sci-fi film features Ryan Gosling as a high school science teacher who embarks on a critical mission in space to address a galaxy-wide crisis.
The film, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and produced by Amy Pascal, is already generating notable buzz among audiences. It has gained traction with both men and women, boasting impressive first-choice ratings that surpass early tracking figures of films like “Oppenheimer” and “F1.” Historically, only 87 films have surpassed $40 million in domestic openings, and non-sequels are even rarer.
- Release Date: March 20, 2024
- Budget: $150 million
- Projected Opening: $50 million
- Director: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
- Producer: Amy Pascal
- Genre: Sci-fi
Based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, this film follows in the footsteps of “The Martian,” which was a major box office success in 2015. Early reactions from press screenings suggest that audiences will be engaged from start to finish.
Ready or Not 2 Aims for $11M Opening
Also premiering on March 20 is “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come,” produced by Searchlight Pictures. This sequel has a projected debut of over $11 million. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet, the film continues the story of Grace, portrayed by Samara Weaving.
The sequel sees Grace face new challenges, confronting an Illuminati-like set of characters. The original film, released in 2019, opened to $8 million and garnered a worldwide total of $57.1 million against a modest production budget.
- Release Date: March 20, 2024
- Projected Opening: $11 million+
- Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet
- Genre: Horror
Advance screenings of the film hint at strong distributor confidence, poised to capitalizing on good word-of-mouth before its world premiere at SXSW in Austin on March 13. This weekend is crucial, coinciding with peak spring break times for many students, with nearly 38% of K-12 schools and 37% of colleges closed.
The dual release of “Project Hail Mary” and “Ready or Not 2” positions March 20 as a promising date for moviegoers, making it an anticipated weekend for box office numbers amidst strong competition.
