The Wild Robot Surprises at the Box Office

In a surprising turn of events this weekend, DreamWorks Animation’s latest family film, *The Wild Robot*, is outperforming expectations with a stunning projected opening of $35 million. This marks a promising debut for the film, which is drawing significant interest from younger audiences.

The animated feature, directed by Chris Sanders, is expected to rake in $11.3 million just today, buoyed by a strong preliminary showing of nearly $2 million from Thursday night previews.

Beetlejuice Holds Strong

In contrast, Warner Bros.’ *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice* is still holding strong in its fourth weekend, estimated to earn $15.5 million. This brings its total gross to approximately $250 million by Sunday.

The much-anticipated sequel features Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder in lead roles, continuing their beloved roles from the original 1988 film.

Transformers One Experiences a Drop

Following behind is *Transformers One*, which has experienced a sharp -59% drop in its second weekend, projecting a $10 million total.

The film, which has taken in about $39.8 million over ten days, is struggling to capture audience interest unlike its predecessors.

Devara Part One Impresses

In the fourth spot this weekend, we see *Devara Part One*, an action drama from Prathyangira Cinema starring Oscar winner N.T. Rama Rao Jr. This film is hitting the box office with a solid $6.3 million over the three-day weekend.

Megalopolis Faces Challenges

It has outperformed *Megalopolis*, directed by legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, which is significantly lagging behind with projections of only $3.2 million to $5 million this weekend.

*Megalopolis*, which comes with a hefty production budget of $120 million, is anticipated to face criticism and financial losses, with its release strategy criticized after a lukewarm reception at Cannes.

Critics and Audience Reception

Despite the mixed reviews, Coppola's cinematic vision is indeed coming to life on the big screen, showcasing its ambition partly through live IMAX events in select theaters across major cities. However, the film has seen disastrous exit polls, causing concerns among investors.

Additionally, audience demographics reveal interesting trends, with *Megalopolis* initially attracting an audience primarily of young males. With only 45% approval on PostTrak and critical scores indicating a mixed reception, the film has a long road ahead to justify its budget.

Box Office Landscape

Meanwhile, box office performances of previous titles continue to solidify their place in the rankings. *Beetlejuice*, despite its age, is pacing just beneath its predecessor *It* in terms of earnings, showcasing the staying power of cult classics in today's box office landscape.

External Factors Affecting Box Office

As the weekend progresses, it's important to monitor how external factors, such as the looming Hurricane Helene, impact box office numbers. With millions currently lacking power in affected states, the theater landscape may experience further fluctuations.

Stay tuned as we continue to update you on the latest happenings in Hollywood, where box office battles are fiercer than ever!