Friday’s box office was filled with familiar faces (Sam Raimi and Jason Statham) and unexpected newcomers (Melania Trump and Mark “Marcprior” Fischbacher), but Fischbacher’s indie horror The Iron Lung came out on top.
“Iron Lung” debuted at No. 1 on Friday with an estimated $8.9 million from 3,015 theaters, an impressive result considering the film was self-distributed and financed by YouTube superstar Mark Plier, aka Fischbach. Domestic sales are expected to rise to $17 million by Sunday, well above the initial estimate of $10 million. The film, based on the 2022 indie horror game, is co-directed by the game’s developer David Szymanski and Fischbach, who also stars.
“Iron Lung” follows a fugitive in a post-apocalyptic future who must scavenge for natural resources in an ocean of blood after an apocalyptic event known as the “Silent Rapture.” Other cast members include Troy Baker, Elsie Lovelock, Sean McLoughlin, and Caroline Kaplan.
“Send Help,” a bloody desert-island thriller directed by “Evil Dead” mastermind Raimi, ranked second on Friday with $7.2 million from 3,475 theaters in North America. Disney and 20th Century are expecting $18 million by Sunday, but that number could easily rise. Raimi’s popularity among horror fans, combined with the genre’s bankability, could spell sleeper hit status for “Send Help.” The film comes with a $40 million price tag.
Headlined by Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, “Send Help” follows an overworked and underappreciated employee (McAdams) and his younger, foolish boss (O’Brien) whose power relationship is reversed when a plane crashes on a remote island.
In third place was Brett Ratner’s “Melania,” which follows the first lady during the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration. The doc grossed $2.9 million from 1,778 theaters on Friday. The film is expected to gross $8.1 million through Sunday, a significant increase from the original estimate of $3 million to $5 million. Amazon MGM spent $40 million to acquire the film. “Melania” will be Ratner’s first big-screen match since a 2017 sexual assault scandal landed her on the industry’s blacklist. He is also reportedly planning to direct “Rush Hour 4” soon at the request of the White House.
Fourth place goes to indie banner Black Bear’s Statham action vehicle “Shelter.” The film grossed $1.9 million domestically on Friday from 2,726 theaters. The film, directed by Ric Roman Waugh (“Angels Fell,” “Greenland”), is expected to reach $5 million by Sunday. The film cost $50 million to make.
In “Shelter,” Statham is portrayed as a recluse who rescues a young girl from the ocean, setting off a dangerous chain of events that forces him to confront his own dark past. Other cast members include Harriet Walter, Bill Nighy, Daniel Mays, Naomi Ackie, and Bodhi Ray Bresnach.
At the bottom of the list was Disney’s holdover film Zootopia 2. The animated sequel grossed $1.3 million on Friday. An additional $5.8 million is expected to be added by Sunday, bringing the domestic total to about $408 million.
