The movie office figures for this weekend won’t bring much solace to anyone seeking respite from Hollywood’s avalanche of sequels, prequels, remakes, and reboots.
According to Boxofficemojo.com, the reimagining of the cult classic high school drama Mean Girls from the early 2000s brought in an estimated $28 million in domestic movie theaters between Friday and Sunday.
With an alleged budget of $36 million, the new Mean Girls is well on its way to exceeding the requirement that a film earn twice its cost at the box office in order to be profitable.
In the movie, a brainiac tries to ruin and humiliate some popular girls. Critics and fans have since praised the 2004 modestly successful original film, directed by Tina Fey and written by her, as a great example of a female-led comedy.
One of the few stars from the original film to make an appearance in the new version is Fey, who also co-wrote the screenplay for the musical remake, which retells the plot.
Second place went to the newest Jason Statham film, The Beekeeper, which this weekend in US theaters is expected to have brought in $16.8 million.
Like other Statham films, which often follow a tough, win-at-all-costs anti-hero on a quest for vengeance, this one is an action thriller.
Wonka, the predecessor to the beloved 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, proved to have some enduring power when it brought in an estimated $8.4 million over the course of the weekend in domestic theaters.
After overcoming a dismal first weekend, the movie—which stars Timothée Chalamet in the lead role—has already generated over $505 million globally.
