Mortal Kombat II Tops Friday but Faces Tough Fight Against Prada 2 for Weekend Win
Mortal Kombat II surged to the top of the box office on Friday, raking in about $17 million and setting up a fierce weekend showdown with The Devil Wears Prada 2, which pulled in $9.8 million on Friday. With Mother’s Day weekend underway, the competition is heating up as both blockbusters vie for the top spot in domestic ticket sales.
The video game adaptation Mortal Kombat II, released by New Line and Warner Bros., has captivated a predominantly male audience, with males comprising over 75 percent of Friday’s viewers. This sequel’s early momentum positions it for an opening weekend between $40 million and $45 million, according to tracking data, though Warner Bros. has predicted a conservative launch closer to $35 million to $40 million. The film earned a B+ CinemaScore, signaling strong but mixed audience reception.
Directed again by Simon McQuoid and featuring Karl Urban as fan-favorite Johnny Cage, Mortal Kombat II follows a high-stakes martial arts tournament with Earth’s fate hanging in the balance. The first Mortal Kombat film opened to $23 million domestically before topping out at $42 million, making the sequel’s current pace promising and exciting for fans of the franchise.
Prada 2 Nears $112 Million Domestic Total, Riding Mother’s Day Popularity
The Devil Wears Prada 2 — a female-driven sequel from 20th Century Studios — finished Friday with a stellar domestic total nearing $112 million and a global haul exceeding $326 million. With Mother’s Day traffic expected to boost its performance, Prada 2 is poised to hold an edge in weekend totals as it chases the largest female-led film crown since Warner Bros.’ Barbie dominated last summer.
The box office duel between Mortal Kombat II and Prada 2 highlights a classic gender split in moviegoing trends this weekend, making Sunday’s Mother’s Day key for the ultimate winner. Prada 2’s broad appeal to female audiences could push it past the Mortal Kombat sequel in the final weekend tallies.
Michael Jackson Biopic Breaks Milestones Ahead of Third Weekend
Meanwhile, Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic continues its impressive run, projected to earn over $35 million in its third weekend. With a domestic total approaching $240 million and over $570 million worldwide, the film overtook Bohemian Rhapsody as North America’s top-grossing music biopic, making history during a weekend packed with high-profile releases.
Newcomers Shine on Mother’s Day Weekend: The Sheep Detectives and Billie Eilish Concert Film
Other fresh releases are also drawing attention this weekend. Amazon MGM’s The Sheep Detectives, a comedy-mystery about talking sheep solving a murder, opened to an encouraging $14 million to $15 million with an A CinemaScore. Featuring the voice of Hugh Jackman and executive produced by Project Hail Mary directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the film adds family-friendly options to the competitive box office landscape.
Rounding out the top five is Paramount’s concert film, Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D). Co-directed by James Cameron, the film expects an $8 million debut, bolstered by cutting-edge 3D technology designed to immerse audiences in the live concert experience.
Box Office Revenue Expected to Spike Over 87% Compared to Last Year’s Mother’s Day
The crowded and diverse Mother’s Day lineup has boosted domestic box office projections to rise by more than 87 percent over the same weekend last year. The strong hold of both Mortal Kombat II and Prada 2, alongside other fresh entries, underscores a robust moviegoing surge nationwide.
The weekend will ultimately reveal whether male-driven action or female-driven comedy-drama dominates the box office, with films like the Michael Jackson biopic continuing to shatter records in the background. Box office watchers in Alaska and across the country will be watching Sunday’s totals closely, as Mother’s Day crowds could tip the scales in this high-stakes theatrical race.
Stay tuned for updates as numbers roll in throughout the weekend on thealaskainsider.com.
