Now You See Me 3 Leads Box Office, Running Man Follows in Close Second

LOS ANGELES, California — The weekend box office saw the surprise success of Lionsgate‘s “Now You See Me: Now You Don't,” which opened with an estimated $21 million to $24 million. The film, which is the third in the magician heist franchise, performed better than expected, grossing around $8.4 million on Friday alone.

“Now You See Me 3” has garnered positive attention, with a B+ CinemaScore from audiences. The film is particularly appealing to women, who accounted for 54% of ticket sales. This film’s performance seems to have benefitted from the rainy weather on the West Coast, driving moviegoers indoors.

Meanwhile, the reboot of the classic Arnold Schwarzenegger movie “The Running Man,” directed by Edgar Wright, is tracking for a second-place finish with somewhere between $16 million and $18 million. Initial projections had pegged it to gross over $20 million. The film started with $6.5 million on Friday, which includes previews.

Both films are targeting different demographics, as “Now You See Me 3” appeals to families and couples due to its PG-13 rating, while the R-rated “Running Man” leans more towards a male audience. A breakdown shows that 64% of its viewers are male, with significant interest from those over 35.

In its first week, “Now You See Me 3” opened in 3,403 theaters and has benefited from an impressive social media reach, surpassing the previous installment’s visibility and adding to the anticipation surrounding its release.

With a global and diverse reach, including early success in China, Lionsgate has plans to continue leveraging the “Now You See Me” brand with a magic stage show in Sydney slated for December.

As the weekend progresses, the overall box office is projected to reach $75 million, a slight increase from the same weekend last year. Industry analysts note that with Thanksgiving approaching, both films could see a boost in ticket sales, as moviegoers look for entertainment options during the holiday.