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Amazon MGM · Box Office · Entertainment · Film Industry
Ryan Gosling's "Project Hail Mary" delivered a stellar $80.5 million domestic debut and $140.9 million globally, setting a new Amazon MGM record for its biggest opening ever and becoming the largest debut of the year, according to Variety.
The sci-fi epic, adapted from Andy Weir's novel, exceeded projections of $65 million, driven by excellent reviews (95% on Rotten Tomatoes) and an "A" CinemaScore. This success is crucial for Amazon MGM, which acquired MGM for $8 billion in 2022 and has faced a rocky theatrical foray with recent bombs like "Melania" ($16 million gross vs.
$40 million budget) and "Crime 101" ($65 million gross vs. $90 million budget).
"Project Hail Mary" cost $200 million to produce plus marketing, necessitating sustained box office performance to justify the investment. The film's strong performance, particularly in premium large formats (55% of sales), changes the narrative for Amazon's movie efforts, with "Masters of the Universe" as the next major release in June.
Overall ticket sales are up 21% year-over-year but remain 20% behind pre-pandemic averages.
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