Before the next big studio release shakes things up, the box office is still firmly in the grip of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. And in the middle of that dominance, a new horror entry is trying to carve its own space.
Lee Cronin’s The Mummy has finally entered the race — but its start feels more cautious than explosive.
A Decent Start, But Not a Breakout
The film pulled in around $1.5 million from Thursday previews, with shows kicking off in the afternoon. Not bad for a horror title, but also not the kind of number that screams blockbuster.
Right now, the film is tracking toward a $12 million opening weekend — which puts it in a mid-range zone for horror releases.
Given its reported $22 million budget (helped by Irish tax credits), the film doesn’t need massive numbers to stay safe — but it still needs solid word-of-mouth.
Mario Still Dominating Everything
Meanwhile, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie isn’t slowing down.
The animated giant is heading toward a third weekend of around $44 million. That’s a drop from earlier weeks, but still strong enough to keep it comfortably at the top.
For context, the 2023 Super Mario Bros Movie did nearly $60 million in its third weekend — so this one is holding slightly lower, but still dominating the current box office landscape.
Audience vs Critics — A Classic Split
Early reactions for The Mummy are… mixed, but leaning positive where it matters.
Audiences are showing up for it, giving it around 80%, while critics are sitting much lower at 51%. That gap usually tells you one thing — it’s working better as a theatrical experience than a critical darling.
And for horror, that’s often enough.
Story Brings a Dark Twist
The plot leans more emotional than expected.
It follows a young girl who vanishes into the desert, only to return years later — but something’s clearly wrong. What should’ve been a reunion turns into something far more disturbing.
It’s less about classic mummy action and more about psychological horror mixed with supernatural tension.
Who’s Watching?
Early audience data shows an interesting split.
Men over 25 and women under 25 are driving most of the turnout. And in terms of interest levels, it’s performing in the same range as The Invisible Man, slightly above some recent horror titles.
So the demand is there — just not exploding yet.
The Real Test Starts Now
The opening is decent, not huge. But horror films often depend on weekend buzz.
If audiences keep backing it, The Mummy could build momentum. If not, it risks getting buried under Mario’s massive run.
Right now, it’s a waiting game — and the next couple of days will decide everything.
