‘Challengers’ Claims Victory with $15 Million Box Office Debut
Well, let’s dissect this match, shall we?
“Challengers,” a provocative, boundary-pushing drama rated for mature audiences, clinched the top spot at the lacklustre box office this weekend in the UK, raking in £15 million from 3,477 screens. On one hand, it’s a commendable achievement for a sophisticated film targeting discerning adult viewers.
However, what prevents it from achieving a championship status is its hefty £55 million budget (not to mention the costs of marketing). The film, released by Amazon MGM Studios, will rely heavily on positive word-of-mouth to sustain its momentum. But looming on the horizon is Universal’s “The Fall Guy,” an action-comedy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, heralding the onset of the summer blockbuster season. The competition is only expected to intensify from here on out.
Amazon MGM might argue that the success of “Challengers” doesn’t solely hinge on its box office performance. They believe that the heightened visibility garnered from a theatrical release will boost the film’s debut on Prime Video, Amazon’s streaming platform, positioning it well for subsequent revenue streams in home entertainment.
However, crucial revenue and viewership data remain largely undisclosed or are presented in a highly favourable light, making it increasingly challenging to gauge what constitutes genuine success in this evolving streaming landscape. Kevin Wilson, Amazon MGM Studios’ head of theatrical distribution, anticipates that “Challengers” will resonate with Prime Video subscribers, drawing parallels to “Saltburn,” a provocative drama released by the company last autumn that emerged as one of its most-watched streaming offerings.
Wilson confidently asserts, “This movie is going to surpass expectations when it lands on our platform,” highlighting how theatrical earnings effectively offset the marketing expenses for “Challengers.” He further notes, “Amazon’s financial dynamics differ somewhat when compared to traditional studios.
Indeed, Amazon’s colossal $1.87 trillion market capitalisation affords it the luxury to invest in projects like “Challengers,” even if its theatrical revenue alone may not finance Jeff Bezos’ next space voyage. A glance at the market capitalisations of major media conglomerates underscores Amazon’s financial prowess — Warner Bros. Discovery stands at $19.79 billion, Disney’s at $206.78 billion, and Comcast’s at $153.19 billion.
However, some seasoned box office analysts remain sceptical of this new paradigm in Hollywood economics, characterised by a “trust us, it’s a hit” ethos, particularly with the advent of tech giants like Apple and Amazon. Jeff Bock from Exhibitor Relations remarks, “Everyone seems to be peddling the narrative that box office success translates into viewership, making it difficult to label anything a failure,” highlighting the opaque terminology surrounding downstream revenues. Yet, juxtaposed against decades of box office data, “Challengers” appears middling in Bock’s estimation.
Starring Zendaya alongside emerging talents Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, “Challengers” holds promise in the awards season conversation. Director Luca Guadagnino’s exploration of the intertwined lives of three tennis professionals has earned critical acclaim, with Variety’s Peter Debruge praising its “sultry and sophisticated” depiction, declaring it a film that induces palpable excitement even in passive observation. With an impressive 88% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a B+ CinemaScore from audiences, “Challengers” appears to be resonating positively.
Zendaya’s star power, buoyed by recent successes such as the “Dune” franchise and “Euphoria,” significantly contributed to the film’s appeal. PostTrak data indicates that approximately 55% of cinema-goers were drawn to “Challengers” due to her prominence in the cast. Furthermore, Zendaya’s involvement in “Dune: Part Two,” which recently surpassed $700 million globally, signals her ascent within Hollywood’s elite circle of actors, alongside peers like Timothée Chalamet, Michael B. Jordan, and the dynamic duo of Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell.
While “Challengers” enjoyed a boost from IMAX screenings, generating $1.2 million in revenue, “Unsung Hero,” a heartfelt drama chronicling the rise of Christian rock duo For King & Country, secured second place at the box office with $7.7 million. The film, co-directed by Joel Smallbone and Richard Ramsey, benefits from a modest $6 million production budget and strong reception from faith-based audiences, as evidenced by its heavenly A+ CinemaScore.
Meanwhile, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” from Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros. grossed $7.2 million to claim third place, while A24’s “Civil War” and Universal’s “Abigail” rounded out the top five with $7 million and $5.2 million, respectively, in domestic earnings.
Amidst the array of recent releases, Roadside Attractions’ “Boy Kills World,” an action-packed adventure starring Bill Skarsgård, made its debut in just under 2,000 theatres, pulling in approximately £1.6 million. Meanwhile, the classic sci-fi horror “Alien,” directed by Ridley Scott, experienced a resurgence, garnering nearly £1.6 million in revenue following its re-release by Disney and 20th Century Pictures.
However, the weekend’s overall box office takings saw a significant decline of nearly 35% compared to the same period last year. At this time in the previous year, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” was still a major draw, raking in over £40 million in its fourth weekend on the big screen.
Originally slated to open the Venice Film Festival, “Challengers” faced delays due to an actors’ strike, which hindered promotional efforts led by Zendaya and the cast. Nonetheless, this delay may have provided a boon for struggling cinemas, grappling with a prolonged downturn exacerbated by COVID and strikes within the entertainment industry. Consequently, 2024 has seen a nearly 20% drop in ticket sales, leaving cinemas eager for new releases like “Challengers” to attract audiences, despite not achieving blockbuster sales.
In the realm of R-rated dramas, post-COVID times have seen few successes, with only “Don’t Worry Darling,” which premiered in 2022 with a £19.4 million opening weekend, outperforming “Challengers.”
Reflecting on the performance of “Challengers,” industry insiders acknowledge the challenges facing original R-rated dramas. Nonetheless, they view its debut as a positive outcome given the current landscape.
While “Challengers” marks the largest opening of director Guadagnino’s career, he has long been revered more for his arthouse sensibilities than mainstream appeal. Nevertheless, the film’s opening weekend surpasses the debut of his previous work, “Bones and All,” which earned £2.2 million upon its release in 2022, marking a notable achievement for the acclaimed filmmaker.
Zendaya Comments on ‘Challengers’ Ending: Potential Confusion Highlighted
Zendaya has expressed that the conclusion of “Challengers” might be perplexing for some viewers, revealing that even her own mother interpreted the ending differently and believed Tashi to be angry.
All Tashi Duncan wanted was to excel at tennis. In the culmination of Luca Guadagnino’s gripping tennis saga “Challengers,” the camera lingers on Tashi (played by Zendaya) as she passionately shouts “come on!” after a remarkable match point volley between rivals Patrick Zweig (portrayed by Josh O’Connor) and Art Donaldson (played by Mike Faist). The intensity of the volley escalates to the point where Art vaults over the net, collapsing into Patrick’s embrace. Is Tashi overwhelmed with embarrassment or filled with joy? Zendaya confessed in a candid moment during the actors’ recent interview with The New York Times’ Kyle Buchanan that the conclusion might be “puzzling” for some viewers.
“My mom interpreted the ending completely differently,” Zendaya revealed. “She thought, ‘Tashi is furious because they realize they no longer need her.’ I was like, ‘But I do have a hint of a smile at the end!’ My mum was watching it behind me, and every time my character behaves questionably or betrays her husband, she’s like, ‘Why did you do that?’ She’s so disappointed in Tashi, so upset. But it’s intriguing, because I thought, ‘Where did you get that from?’ I’m part of the film and I felt I grasped what the ending was supposed to convey, but she insisted, ‘No, this is what it is. My apologies.’
Guadagnino remarked, “I appreciate that interpretation” of the conclusion, further stating, “Tashi is a manipulator. She’s akin to Lermontov in ‘The Red Shoes,’ orchestrating events. Perhaps your mother is correct; perhaps Tashi desires for them to reunite … I appreciate your mother’s perspective because it adds an additional layer that transcends our initial intentions. In my view, she smiles at the end, if you were to freeze the frame.”
Zendaya clarified that Tashi’s expression signifies a resounding “yes!” of affirmation, “but my mum perceives it differently.”
“That’s brilliant, isn’t it?” remarked O’Connor enthusiastically. “I really enjoyed reading that,” he added. “I reckon that’s the crux of it – everyone sees things differently.”
“Isn’t it fascinating that we’ve got an open-ended conclusion that resonates with people?” Guadagnino pondered with his cast. “Because everyone usually insists, ‘No, endings must be definite. You’ve got to know how it all ends.'”
Faist chimed in, describing the ending as “open to interpretation,” while Zendaya admitted that it’s also “puzzling” at the same time. Whatever it may be, it’s definitely sparking discussions among audiences. Challengers” recently stormed the box office with a staggering $15 million debut and has been dominating social media conversations.
“Challengers” is currently showing in cinemas across the country. You can read the full interview with The New York Times featuring the team here.”