Super Bowl Weekend Box Office Dips, Send Help Leads

Hollywood's box office took a predictable dip during Super Bowl weekend, as audiences tuned into football rather than theaters, with the survival thriller "Send Help" holding the top spot for a second straight week while the Melania Trump documentary "Melania" saw a steep decline in its sophomore frame.

The weekend, which wrapped up Sunday, marked one of the year's quietest periods for moviegoing, a trend that has persisted in recent years. Last year, it ranked as the second-slowest weekend, and in 2024, it came in dead last. Studios shifted their promotional efforts toward the Super Bowl broadcast, capitalizing on its vast viewership to unveil trailers for upcoming releases, including Disney's "Mandalorian and Grogu," Lionsgate's Michael Jackson biopic "Michael," and Universal Pictures' "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie."

In North American theaters, "Send Help," directed by Sam Raimi and released by Disney's 20th Century Studios, earned an estimated $10 million in its second weekend, according to studio figures. The R-rated film, a midbudget survival story, has now grossed $53.7 million worldwide, establishing itself as a reliable performer in a market favoring established franchises.