Title: “Mean Girls’ Reboot Begins with Promising Box Office Numbers”
In a comeback that is sure to thrill fans of the 2004 cult classic, the mean girls are back, and they mean business. The much-anticipated movie adaptation of the Broadway musical “Mean Girls” has made a strong debut at the North American box office, raking in an impressive $3.3 million in previews. This previews performance has put the movie on par with the popular “Wonka” adaptation, setting the stage for a potential blockbuster success.
With a production cost of $36 million, Paramount’s “Mean Girls” has been the latest musical to hit the big screen, following in the footsteps of “Wonka” and “The Color Purple.” Directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., the film has already garnered significant attention due to its star-studded cast and the return of original scriptwriter Tina Fey.
Scheduled for release over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, “Mean Girls” is expected to open to an impressive $30 million, based on early projections. The timing of the release couldn’t be more perfect, considering that it arrives on the scene exactly 20 years after the Lindsay Lohan-led original version of “Mean Girls” captured the hearts of audiences.
The new iteration of the film features a fresh cast including rising stars like Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli’i Cravalho, Bebe Wood, and Chris Briney. However, fans will be delighted to know that Tina Fey and Tim Meadows will be reprising their iconic roles from the 2004 film, injecting a sense of nostalgia into the reboot.
Although the original film enjoyed an impressive 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, initial reviews for the new “Mean Girls” currently stand at a solid 70%. Still, with 108 reviews in its favor already, the film seems to be scoring well with critics and audiences alike.
Furthermore, the movie faces some competition from other new releases aiming to counterprogram against “Mean Girls.” One such film is “The Beekeeper,” starring the ever-popular Jason Statham, which is expected to open in the mid to high teens. Additionally, “The Book of Clarence,” a highly-anticipated Black-led biblical satirical drama featuring a star-packed cast, is tracking to open in single digits.
In other news, Amazon and MGM have recently announced plans to expand the release of “American Fiction,” starring Jeffrey Wright, into 600 theaters. This film, an adaptation of Percival Everett’s satirical novel “Erasure,” will feature Cord Jefferson as the filmmaker, along with co-stars such as Sterling K. Brown, Leslie Uggams, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, and Adam Brody.
As audiences eagerly await the release of “Mean Girls” and other promising new films, it seems that the North American box office is in for an exciting and star-studded period at the cinemas. With the success of the previews, strong opening weekend projections, and a highly talented cast, “Mean Girls” is poised to recapture the hearts of old and new fans alike.
