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411 Box Office Report: Dog Man Dominates With $36 Million Start, Companion Takes #2

February 2, 2025 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas
Dog Man Companion Box Office Image Credit: DreamWorks Animation/Warner Bros.

It was a big weekend at the box office for families as Dog Man soared to the top spot. The Universal and DreamWorks Animation film raked in $36 million in its opening weekend, soaring above its mid-to-high $20 million range estimates. That marks the best opening of the year and the best since Sonic The Hedgehog 3 started with $60.1 million in the weekend before Christmas. It also reps the all-time second-biggest animated opening for January, behind only Kung Fu Panda 3 which launched to $41.8 million back in 2016.

It’s a big number for the movie, which is based on the Dav Pilkey’s graphic novel for kids. Dog Man can thank the fact that the family-friendly options at theaters have been there for a while and you can only go see them so many times. Dog Man gave audiences something new, and it was well-liked enough by critics to give it a slight buzz with a 76% aggregated average on Rotten Tomatoes.

Universal staked out a great release date for this film, coming the weekend before the Super Bowl when the January theater choices had largely played out and there was no fresh direct competition. But it also earned audiences’ praise with an A CinemaScore and an 86% RT audience score. Those should bode well for the film’s legs despite the overperformance. A $110 million domestic final seems very likely, which will make this a major hit against a thrifty (for animation) budget of $40 million. It’s off to a mild start in early overseas receipts with $4.6 million for a $40.6 million worldwide beginning.

Companion performed about as expected, with the satirical thriller taking in $9.5 million. That’s right around the $8 million to $10 million that analysts were expecting for it coming into the weekend. Drew Hancock’s directorial debut launched at about the same level as Barbarian did in September of 2022; that film started with $10.5 million.

Unlike Dog Man, Companion had a little bit of competition but not too much. The film was ostensibly up against other thrillers like Flight Risk and Den Of Thieves 2, though those films aren’t direct comparisons and its horror competition Wolf Man is already out of the top 10.

Still, this film was always going to open around this range and the buzz is strong. The movie has strong reviews from critics (94% on RT) and the audience reactions are equally good with a 91% RT audience score and a B+ CinemaScore. Those should bode in the film’s favor. As an extra bonus, the film has already outperformed Barbarian’s modest overseas gross with $5.5 million (Barbarian did just $4.5 million). The movie is looking at probably $30 million in the US and will be easily profitable against a budget of just under $10 million.

Mufasa: The Lion King was down just 29% in its seventh weekend with $6.1 million, continuing a great run. The Disney sequel is now at $229.5 million domestically and $653.7 million worldwide, a hit for the studio against a $200 million budget. It is still aiming for around $240 million stateside by the end of its run.

One Of Them Days also held on well once again, easing just 25% in its third weekend to $6 million. The comedy is performing very well so far with $34.5 million domestically against a budget of $14 million. It’s going to be easily profitable for Sony Pictures with a likely $45 million by the time it closes out in theaters.

Flight Risk took a standard fall for thrillers, off 52% in its sophomore frame. Mel Gibson-directed film took in another $5.6 million, with the drop expected considering the middling reaction to the film both critically and in word of mouth. Right now, the Mark Wahlberg-starrer has $20.9 million in the US and $25.1 million worldwide, decent if not great numbers against a $25 million budget, with a likely $30 million stateside final take. The overseas numbers will determine if it is profitable before it leaves theaters.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 rang up another $3.2 million for its seventh weekend, a slide of 39%. The threequel is a profit for Paramount and Sega with $230.5 million domestically and $462.5 million worldwide opposite a $122 million budget. The domestic total is still aiming for close to $240 million.

Moana 2 is hanging in there, down 32% in its tenth weekend to $2.8 million. The animated sequel is hugely profitable at $453.9 million domestically and $1.036 billion worldwide. The US final tally looks to be about $460 million against a $150 million production budget.

A Complete Unknown was down 30% in its eleventh frame. The Bob Dylan biopic brought in $2.2 million, bringing its totals to $66.7 million domestically and $87.4 million worldwide. A $70 million total still looks to be the endgame domestically, and the overseas numbers should bring it near profit against a $60 million budget as it continues to perform there.

The Brutalist was also down 30% as it continues to go wider. The Oscar frontrunner rung up $1.9 million this weekend, bringing its totals to $12.1 million in the US and $18.2 million worldwide against a $9 million budget. It will have no issue being profitable and is looking at a domestic final north of $20 million thanks to the continued Oscar buzz.

Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera was down 47% in its fourth weekend to gross $1.6 million action-thriller, which already has a third entry on the way, is up to $34.5 million stateside and $49.5 million worldwide against a $40 million budget. The domestic total will be a touch under $40 million, enough for a bit of profit with international receipts continuing to come in.

Next weekend will probably see Dog Man retain its #1 spot as a couple of genre films fly into theaters for Valentine’s Day. The first is the slasher romcom Heart Eyes and the second is the Ke Huy Quan-fronted action romcom Love Hurts. Both films are looking at around $8 million to $10 million.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)
1. Dog Man – $36 million ($36 million total, $40.6 million WW)
2. Companion – $9.5 million ($9.5 million total, $15 million WW)
3. Mufasa: The Lion King – $6.1 million ($229.5 million total, $653 million WW)
4. One Of Them Days – $6 million ($34.5 million total, $34.5 million WW)
5. Flight Risk – $5.6 million ($20.9 million total, $25.1 million WW)
6. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – $3.2 million ($230.5 million total, $462.5 million WW)
7. Moana 2 – $2.8 million ($453.9 million total, $1.036 billion WW)
8. A Complete Unknown – $2.2 million ($66.7 million total, $87.4 million WW)
9. The Brutalist – $1.9 million ($12.1 million total, $18.2 million WW)
10. Den of Thieves: Pantera – $1.6 million ($34.5 million total, $49.5 million WW)