Universal’s “he” debuted at the second-place domestic box office on Friday. Last weekend’s anime smash “Demon Slayer: Yaiba Island – Infinity Castle,” while Sony’s space romance “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” proves theatrical bust that debuted outside the top five.
“He” skipped $6.47 million on the first day (including $2 million from the preview screening) from 3,168 locations in North America. The film also shares IMAX and other large premium auditoriums with “Demon Slayer.” Directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Pier banner Monkeypaw Productions, Faustian Football Fable is currently forecasting a $15 million opening weekend. It is behind the initial forecast for the $18 million North debut, and could also bring the R-rated horror original to second place behind “Demon Slayer.” Still, it’s not a non-starter given the film’s relatively modest $27 million production budget.
What’s even more troublesome is how rough the topic around “he” is and how it affects moving forward with the theatre’s outlook. The film is thoroughly rejected by critics and is not warm to the general audience. Cinema Score, a research firm for film fans, votes for bad performance among early viewers. Horror tends to be a more divisive genre, but this type of response rarely brings strong stay power. “He” will face several genre competition next weekend when Lionsgate’s “The Strangers – Chapter 2” opens.
With the release timing in the first week of the NFL season, “He” follows the weighty professional quarterback (Tyriq Withers) who sells soul for the goat position seduced by his mentor (Marlon Wayans).
Sony’s “big bold, beautiful journey” far below the charts meandered to $1.4 million on Friday, with preview screenings snaking from 3,330 locations. The R-Rate original fantasy starring Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie is fortunate to be a hit even half of the forecasts from the week earlier with its $8 million North debut.
It’s a tough outing for Sony. This didn’t land a big domestic opening all year round until anime label Crunchyroll scored on the license release of “Demon Slayer” last weekend. Sony spent $45 million to win global rights to a “bold, beautiful journey” from the European film market in 2024. It’s almost certain that the film won’t regain its residency in theaters.
Props to Sony to bet on originality. The film must have looked like a fascinating outlook. Farrell is attached, and Robby stars in the first theatrical follow-up to Megasmash “Barbie.” “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” also began as a black list script, depicting the critical beloved Auteur Kogonada (Charli XCX’s “Kogonada Summer” scream) for the director’s first stab wound. However, the package didn’t even pan out critically. The audience is also relatively cold, and votes for B grade based on the film score. It seems unlikely that a “big bold, beautiful journey” will last for a long time in the theatre.
Sony can at least take comfort in “Demon Slayer: Kimett No Yaibi Infinity Castle.” As expected, most fans flock to the first screening possible, so the epic length R-rate anime is facing a major plunge from weekends. Still, with forecasts for the sophomore exit (fourthday marking the 77% decline) of $4.56 million on Friday, “Infinity Castle” is ready to lead the national charts once again. The event film, intended as the first of its property’s franchise capping trilogy, will exceed $100 million domestic this weekend. Only the 15th film of 2025 notches that milestone. On Thursday, it surpassed “Pokemon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back” ($85 million), making it the best growth animated film ever released in North America.
Warner Bros. took third place on “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” kicking out an additional $3.7 million from viewers on Friday, marking a 56% drop from last week’s daily total. On the third weekend of the release, the new line’s presentation now stands at $141.9 million domestically. It is expected to quickly hand over Warner Horror Pier’s “Weapons” ($148.9 million) and rank as the 12th biggest release of the year.
Lionsgate’s “The Long Walk” looks to fourth place, bringing another $1.8 million on Friday. It forecasts a second weekend of $6.3 million, down 46% from the modest opening. The national total for Stephen King Adaptation appears to have reached $22.7 million in the first 10 days.
Focus feature Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale actually went ahead on Friday at $1.9 million, but is forecast to be fifth at $6 million for the second weekend. Like “Demon Slayer,” it appears that many Downton fans have prioritized early screenings like this. “The Grand Finale” meant the send-off of his beloved British TV series after his sophomore outing.
Also, Angel Studios, which opened this weekend with “He” has its own football feature along with “Server,” starring Michael Chikris, which is located at 2,405 locations. The film earned $1.25 million on Friday, winning preview screenings and paying attention to the opening in seven locations, based on the true story of a 59-year-old returning to college sports. The film score has now been a sparkling grade.
