With two days left before Masters of the Universe reaches theaters, Variety reported on June 3 that the Amazon MGM film is targeting a 30 to 35 million dollar opening from 3,500 North American locations. The trade headlined the figure as a roughly 33 million dollar start, the clearest pre-release projection yet for the live-action He-Man movie.
Variety’s Rebecca Rubin framed the weekend as a crowded one. Paramount and Miramax’s “Scary Movie” is aiming for 45 to 50 million dollars and will battle A24’s horror hit “Backrooms” for the number one spot, while Curry Barker’s “Obsession” continues its run. The report noted that all three films carry different tones and should be able to coexist, leaving Masters of the Universe to chase family audiences in the mix.
The piece stressed that word of mouth will be central to the longevity, and the financial fate, of a film that Variety lists at a 200 million dollar budget. It pointed to Disney’s “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which dropped about 70 percent in its second weekend, as a sign that family crowds may be looking for something new. The report also recapped the project’s long road from 2007 through Netflix, Warner Bros. and Sony before Amazon MGM acquired the rights in 2024 and hired Travis Knight to direct Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam.
Masters of the Universe is Mattel’s second theatrical feature after “Barbie,” and Variety noted Amazon MGM is hoping to extend the momentum of “Project Hail Mary,” which has earned 678 million dollars worldwide this year. The film opens June 5.
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