The Fast & Furious series has always defied expectations. The first film debuted with a larger gross than the film’s budget. The third film seemed to be sending the series to Direct to DVD Land (back then, they still had DVDs). Instead, the fourth film reset the series to become a legit worldwide franchise. With the end in sight, all the hype was on how Fast X could be the “Infinity War” to the final film’s “Endgame” with Fast 11. Let’s just say Jason Momoa was no Thanos. Fast X opened with a $67 million weekend. That was down $3 million from F9: A Fast Saga’s debut two years ago. The feeling was F9’s opening was down from Fate of the Furious (aka Fast 8… why don’t they make these titles simple?!) because theaters had just reopened from Covid restrictions. No such excuses this time. The series is trending down because, well, the series is trending down. If Jason Momoa in a purple genie outfit can’t get people back in the seats, you’re done.
That said, there are about 8 billion fascinating things in the film. Brie Larson’s fashion style and performance all felt like she thought she was filming Nissan commercials. High-tech prisons that seemed more from Blade Runner 3049 than modern-day military. The clear inspiration from the video game Rocket League where cars play soccer during the Rome scene. The inability for gravity or friction or walls or cars to cause any impediment to said “soccer ball” as it careens toward the Vatican. Trained “Agency” agents are unable to capture any of their intended targets including Jordana Brewster who can’t even make a decent tuna sandwich. No wonder Mr. Nobody needed Dom and his crew the last few films. His people were worthless!
Still, calling Mr. Momoa’s performance “polarizing” is like an insult to both the North and South Pole. To call it over the top is insulting tops. There are no words. He took all of them. I may never know exactly how I feel about his role. I wasn’t bored, but I was sure something. Literally, there was a point where I was like: “Maybe Amber Heard’s not the one we want cut out of Aquaman 2.”
Coming into Week 4 was The Little Mermaid. Though there were common complaints of “remake fatigue” and, sadly, trolls concerned about the racial background of mythical characters, I was much more leery of the listed 135 minute runtime. Part of the original’s charm was its lack of wasted energy, i.e. it’s 83 minute length! As hand-drawn animation was costly and time-consuming back in the day, there was no time for Zack Snyder-esque 7-hour editions that included the mer-people’s backstory as science mutations gone wrong from Prince Eric’s great-great-great grandmother. Was Disney going to blow this and give the people more backstory about things they never wanted in the first place?
The Little Mermaid opened in a big way over Memorial Day weekend collecting $117.5 million over the four days. It’s almost the exact same opening Aladdin had in 2019 when it earned $116.8 over the same period. That film went on to earn over $355 million and there’s no reason to think this fish can’t swim the same lap. If that holds up, The Little Mermaid has a chance to rule the pool.
In regards to the length, I actually found the pace to match most of the original’s briskness. The few new songs and scenes didn’t break what wasn’t broken. They didn’t even try to spawn a new Disney+ series about the daughters of Triton, which was refreshing. Maybe Steven Spielberg would’ve had more success with his West Side Story if he’d staged it under the sea?
Meanwhile, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 did some guarding of its own. Despite opening at a lower total than the other MCU hits in the last two pools, it declined at a smaller rate as well. With blockbuster films, falling 60% or so in the 2nd weekend has become the norm. Meaning, if films fall more than that look for a quick fall, and if films fall less it will be around longer.
Guardians 3 fell 47% in its second week, 47% in its third, and just 35% over the holiday weekend. Rocket Racoon may not have long legs, but this film certainly does! The film has already collected $306 million and $350 could also be in play for this film (along with Mermaid). Can something else come out to challenge these two films or will these be the top films of the summer?
The Top Five If Today Was Labor Day:
#1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 - $306.8 million
#2. The Little Mermaid - $117.5 million
#3. Fast X - $113.5 million
#4. Book Club: The Next Chapter - 16.4 million
#5. n/a
