In a triumphant performance over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, Paramount’s “Mean Girls” musical outshone expectations, raking in an impressive $33.2 million from 3,791 theaters.
Originally intended for a streaming debut on Paramount+, the decision to release the musical in theaters was made after favorable test screenings. The production, with a modest budget of $36 million, not only exceeded financial projections but also garnered attention for its strategic shift from the streaming landscape to a traditional theatrical release.
Starring Angourie Rice as Cady Heron, the role first brought to life by Lindsay Lohan in the 2004 comedy classic, “Mean Girls” explores the challenges of navigating high school’s social hierarchy dominated by the Plastics. Reneé Rapp reprised her Broadway role as the formidable Regina George, joined by a talented ensemble including Bebe Wood, Avantika, Jaquel Spivey, Auli’i Cravalho, and original stars Tim Meadows and producer-writer Tina Fey.
Paramount deliberately downplayed the musical aspects in promotional materials to broaden appeal, earning a respectable “B” grade from research firm Cinema Score. Marc Weinstock, the studio’s president of global marketing, emphasized the decision, stating, “To start off saying musical, musical, musical, you have the potential to turn off audiences. I want everyone to be equally excited.”
“Mean Girls” secured its top spot at the box office, surpassing Amazon MGM’s “The Beekeeper,” directed by David Ayer, which earned $19 million and a “B+” grade on Cinema Score. The action-packed conspiracy film stars Jason Statham as Adam Clay, a former espionage expert seeking revenge, supported by a cast including Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons, Emmy Raver-Lampman, and Minnie Driver.
Meanwhile, Sony and Legendary Pictures’ “The Book of Clarence” faced a challenging start, bringing in only $3 million from 2,010 locations in its holiday opening weekend. Directed by Jeymes Samuel, the biblical satire, featuring LaKeith Stanfield as a self-serving Messiah, struggled to gain traction despite its $40 million production budget, receiving a “B” grade on Cinema Score.
