NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� DreamWorks Animation's fetched $36 million in ticket sales at the weekend box office, according to studio estimates Sunday, making it the biggest debut yet in 2025.
It was a big opening for the Universal Pictures release adapted from the popular graphic novel series by author Dav Pilkey. The big-screen launch for the cartoon canine was produced for a modest $40 million, meaning it will easily coast through a profitable run. Audiences gave it an 鈥淎鈥� CinemaScore.
Only one animated film before has had a better January launch: 2016鈥檚 鈥淜ung Fu Panda 3.鈥� 鈥淒og Man,鈥� though, was soft overseas, collecting $4.2 million from 29 international markets. The voice cast of the Peter Hastings-directed movie is led by Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery and Isla Fisher.
Family movies last year , with PG-rated films accounting for $2.9 billion, or 33% of all ticket revenue, according to data firm Comscore. So far, they鈥檙e lifting 2025, too. The Walt Disney Co.鈥檚 December release topped the weekend box office three times in January. In its seventh week of release, 鈥淢ufasa鈥� held in third place with another $6.1 million, bringing its global tally to $653 million.
鈥淭he PG animation family film wave that was so prevalent in 鈥�24 continues in 鈥�25,鈥� said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore.
The horror comedy from Warner Bros. and New Line, also opened well, with $9.5 million in 3,285 locations. Drew Hancock鈥檚 sci-fi tinged film set in the near future is about a group of friends on a weekend lakeside getaway.
鈥淐辞尘辫补苍颈辞苍,鈥� starring Sophie Thatcher ( ), was lightly marketed and made for just $10 million. It will depend on glowing reviews (94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and strong word of mouth (a 鈥淏+鈥� CinemaScore) to keep drawing moviegoers in the coming weeks.
, Mel Gibson鈥檚 鈥淔light Risk,鈥� dropped steeply in its second weekend. The action thriller starring Mark Wahlberg fell to fifth place with $5.6 million. Domestically, it has collected $20.9 million for Lionsgate.
One of the early year鈥檚 standout successes has been Sony Pictures鈥� the R-rated comedy starring Keke Palmer and SZA. Though comedies have had a hard time in theaters in recent years, 鈥淥ne of Them Days鈥� has proven a exception. The well-reviewed movie earned $5.6 million over the weekend, bringing its three-week total to $34.5 million 鈥� a stellar result for a movie that cost $14 million to make.
Final domestic figures will be released Monday. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
1. "Dog Man," $36 million.
2. 鈥淐辞尘辫补苍颈辞苍,鈥� $9.5 million.
3. 鈥淢ufasa,鈥� $6.1 million.
4. 鈥淥ne of Them Days,鈥� $6 million.
5. 鈥淔light Risk鈥� $5.6 million.
6. 鈥淪onic the Hedgehog 3,鈥� $3.2 million.
7. 鈥淢oana 2,鈥� $2.8 million.
8. 鈥淎 Complete Unknown,鈥� $2.2 million.
9. 鈥淭he Brutalist,鈥� $1.9 million.
10. 鈥淒en of Thieves: Pantera,鈥� $1.6 million.
Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
