UPDATED 2/16, 11:35 a.m ET: Sonic the Hedgehog has grossed $57 million over Presidents Day weekend in North America and $100 million globally, Variety reports. It’s the best performance ever for a video game adaptation. The movie is now anticipated to bring in $68 million through Monday, one of the best showings for the holiday weekend.
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Despite a relatively mixed critical response, the Sonic the Hedgehog movie has gotten off to a strong start at the box office. The Hollywood Reporter reveals that the Paramount Pictures film grossed an impressive $21 million on Friday, and it is on track to gross over $60 million across Presidents Day Weekend.
If the film manages to keep up the pace, the movie will dethrone Detective Pikachu for the biggest domestic opening ever for a video game film. Pikachu took in $54.3 million, and also similarly garnered a mixed critical reception. They both, however, received strong ratings from audiences, with Sonic getting an A CinemaScore and Pikachu an A-. While Sonic was expected to make bank for the studio, it's already performing above expectations.
Sonic will also likely steal the domestic box office top spot from Birds of Prey, which opened to an underwhelming $33 million last week. The Harley Quinn-fronted film is expected to slip down to No. 2 over President Day with $20 million. Just behind is The Photograph and Fantasy Island, which are both fighting out for the No. 3 spot with a four-day gross somewhere between $14 million and $15 million.
Elsewhere in the top ten is Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus' black comedy Downhill, which is underperforming with an expected four-day debut of $5.5 million to $6 million. It could also be bested by Bong Joon Ho's Best Picture winner Parasite, which expanded into more theaters following its wins at the Oscars.
