• Sony Gran Turismo: based on true events is set to top the box office charts in its debut weekend with a $17 million opening despite mixed reviews and ongoing strikes.
  • Warner Bros.’ blockbuster Barbie would have been the best film for the fifth time if Sony hadn’t upgraded the rating Gran Turismofigures with preview.
  • superhero movie Blue beetle dropped to third place and struggled into its second weekend, shedding over 60% and earning $43 million domestically.

Sunday’s National Film Day this weekend will be a symbol of domestic box office performance, and the current line-up could change once the final numbers are announced tomorrow. But in the current position of Sony Gran Turismo: based on true events poised to top the charts on his debut weekend. The video game adaptation is set to debut at $17 million after grossing $8.5 million on Friday, which isn’t a great result for a film despite its modest $60 million budget.

The film had a head start overseas and had already grossed over $20 million in overseas territories even before its US debut. Gran Turismo came amid mixed reviews and in the midst of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, meaning Sony had to count on advertising weeks in advance, as strike rules forbid talent from participating in promotional activities. This film also marks a comeback of sorts for the director. Neil Blomkampthe last notable feature of which was the release of 2015. Chappiealthough he released a modest horror Demonic in 2021.

Warner Bros. blockbuster holdover Barbie Would have topped the box office for the fifth time (in six weekends) if Sony hadn’t increased numbers Gran Turismo $3.9 million through two-week previews, as opposed to the standard practice of Thursday movie previews. Barbie expects the weekend to generate $15.7 million, pushing the domestic total to a staggering $600 million, give or take. This is already the highest-grossing film of the year in the domestic box office, recently overtaking Movie “Super Mario Bros”the lifetime catch was $574 million.

Margot Robbie in Barbie
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Last weekend’s number one film dropped to third place

Third place went to another Warner Bros. movie, a superhero movie. Blue beetle, which simply could not work out in 10 days of release. The film, which has been caught between a rock and a hard place in the context of the ever-evolving DC Extended Universe, debuted a modest $25 million over the weekend. Though it was enough to overthrow Barbie from first place a month later, the film dropped over 60% in its second frame, adding $10 million to its tally. Thus, its current domestic transportation will be $43 million.

The fourth and fifth places were taken by Universal. Oppenheimerwhich recorded another solid success in its sixth weekend - the film famously debuted opposite Barbie more than a month ago - and Paramount’s animated outsider Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Bye Oppenheimer added $9 million this weekend, bringing the total to exactly $300 million. Mutant Chaos earned $5.6 million in its fourth weekend and will cross the $100 million mark domestically in a day or two. You can watch our interview with Gran Turismo cast David Harbor here, and stay tuned to Collider.