Now You See Me 3 Conjures Surprise Box Office Win Against The Running Man

Lionsgate’s “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” has pulled off a box office surprise. The film is set to win the domestic weekend ahead of Paramount’s “The Running Man.” This outcome reverses pre-weekend tracking predictions completely.

According to Reuters, the magic heist sequel outperformed expectations. It earned a strong $8.4 million on its opening Friday. The film is now projected for a $21 million to $24 million debut.

Strong Audience Scores Defy Tracking and Reviews

The film’s opening is a significant victory for the long-dormant franchise. It was initially tracking for a debut around $19 million. Positive audience reaction seems to be the key driver for its over-performance.

Moviegoers gave the film an 80 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also earned a solid B+ CinemaScore. These scores are helping it overcome more mixed critical reviews.

Demographics and Competition Define the Weekend

A major factor in the upset is the audience demographic. Females bought 54 percent of all tickets for “Now You See Me 3.” This gave it a distinct market segment against its competitor.

Paramount’s “The Running Man” is now aiming for a $17 million to $19 million opening. The Glen Powell-led film is skewing heavily male, with 64 percent of its audience. This put it in direct competition with the holdover action film “Predator: Badlands.”

The weekend’s box office race demonstrates the unpredictable nature of the movie business. A well-liked franchise film can still magically appear on top.

Info at your fingertips

What is the plot of Now You See Me 3?

The film sees the return of the Four Horsemen, a group of thieving illusionists. They are joined by a new, younger trio of magicians. Together, they embark on another high-stakes heist.

How did The Running Man perform?

The Glen Powell film is heading for a lower-than-expected opening. It earned $6.4 million on its opening Friday. Rival studios project its weekend total could be as low as $16 million.

Who stars in Now You See Me 3?

The film reunites original cast members Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson. Dave Franco and Isla Fisher also return. They are joined by new stars Justice Smith and Dominic Sessa.

Why is this win considered a surprise?

Pre-release tracking had The Running Man winning the weekend. Most projections showed it earning $24 million to $25 million. The actual results completely flipped these expectations.

What other new film opened this weekend?

The Neon horror film Keeper also debuted widely. It is headed for a very weak opening of around $2.6 million. The film received poor audience scores.