US Box Office Recap: Jan 23–25 Weekend Hit by Storm-Softened Frame
The US box office endured one of its quietest weekends of the year for the January 23-25, 2026 frame, with the top 10 grossing an estimated $42-44 million (some reports cite ~$44M for top 10, overall industry ~$54-58M including all titles). A massive winter storm blanketed much of the country, causing theater closures (hundreds affected, including ~400 reported shut-ins), power outages, travel chaos, and audiences staying home—resulting in sharp drops and the lowest YTD weekend. The full week (Fri Jan 23–Thu Jan 29) saw incremental gains from mid-week surges (e.g., Discount Tuesday), but the three-day weekend remained subdued.
Mercy (Amazon MGM Studios) claimed No. 1 in its debut, dethroning Avatar: Fire and Ash after its five-weekend reign at the top. This marked a symbolic win for the Chris Pratt/Rebecca Ferguson sci-fi thriller, though its modest opening reflected storm impacts and mixed reviews.
Top 10 Weekend Grosses (January 23-25, 2026)
Estimates from Box Office Mojo, The Numbers, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and industry reports:
| Rank | Movie | Distributor | Weekend Gross | % Change | Theaters | Cumulative Domestic | Weeks in Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercy | Amazon MGM | $10.8–$11.2M | NEW | 3,468 | $10.8–$11.2M | 1 | Debut; dethroned Avatar; storm-hit |
| 2 | Avatar: Fire and Ash | 20th Century/Disney | $6.4–$7.0M | -45% | ~3,800 | $378–$381M | 6 | Ended 5-week #1 run |
| 3 | Zootopia 2 | Disney | $5.3–$5.7M | -30–42% | ~2,930 | $401–$403M | 9 | Strong family hold; crossed $400M+ |
| 4 | The Housemaid | Lionsgate | $3.9–$4.2M | -34% | ~3,007 | $115–$117M | 6 | Sleeper hit legs continue |
| 5 | 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple | Sony/Columbia | $3.6–$4.6M | -63% | - | $20–$22M | 2 | Sharp horror drop |
| 6 | Marty Supreme | A24 | $3.5–$4.3M | -22% | - | $87–$88M | 6 | Solid holdover |
| 7 | The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (re-issue) | Fathom/WB | ~$4.0M | -51% | - | $13–$14M | 2 | Re-release fade |
| 8-10 | Others (e.g., Return to Silent Hill, Hamnet, etc.) | Various | Lower | - | - | Varies | - | Fillers; limited impact |
Top 10 Weekend Total: ~$42–$44 million (down significantly from prior weeks' $100M+ highs). Overall industry gross: ~$54–$58 million (lowest YTD, -9% from same weekend prior year).
Weekly Update (to January 29, 2026)
- Mercy added mid-week earnings, reaching $14.7 million cumulative by Jan 29 (e.g., strong Tuesday +76% bump).
- Holdovers like Zootopia 2 and The Housemaid showed resilience with smaller daily drops.
- Full January 2026 month-to-date leaders: Avatar: Fire and Ash (~$130M Jan gross), Zootopia 2 (~$65M), The Housemaid (~$61M).
Key Insights and Analysis
- Storm & Market Impact: Severe weather across the US suppressed turnout dramatically—many theaters closed, and family/adult audiences avoided outings. This led to the softest weekend in early 2026, with top 10 down sharply vs. holiday frames.
- New Release Performance: Mercy's $10.8–$11.2M debut (from 3,468 theaters, ~$3,117 PTA) was below expectations for a Pratt-led original but secured #1. It outperformed some forecasts but highlighted challenges for mid-budget sci-fi in poor conditions.
- Holdover Strength: Family animation (Zootopia 2) and word-of-mouth thrillers (The Housemaid) held best, with modest declines. Avatar: Fire and Ash still added significantly to its massive run.
- 2026 Early Trends: Post-holiday January remains slow, but 2025 carryovers (Zootopia 2 nearing $403M domestic, Avatar past $378M) dominate YTD. Originals struggle vs. sequels/franchises; storm amplified the slump.
- Comparisons to Prior January Weekends: Far below MLK or early Jan highs (e.g., prior weekends saw $100M+ top 10). Similar to historically soft January frames, but storm made it one of the lowest in recent memory.
This weekend underscores theatrical challenges in winter slumps: weather, competition from home viewing/sports, and reliance on holdovers. Mercy tops the box office symbolically, but the frame highlights a cautious early 2026 market.
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