Theater counts: The Little Mermaid makes a splash in 4,320 theaters

May 25, 2023

It’s a very solid weekend for moviegoers as not only are there five new wide releases arriving in cinemas, but films like Fast X and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 are still pulling in respectable numbers and are available in around 4,000 locations. Despite being the second-widest release in its big screen debut last weekend, the former sped away with the best numbers at the box office, scoring just over $67 million over the weekend and currently enjoying a six-day domestic total of $81.9 million. This weekend though, all eyes are on The Little Mermaid.

While the new Little Mermaid won’t break any records with its opening week availability in 4,320 theaters, it does sit in good company, charting as the 46th widest release of all time, sitting comfortably between The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (4,324), and Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which opened in 4,315 cinemas. Directed by Rob Marshall, the live-action version stars Halle Bailey as the mermaid princess, Ariel, while co-starring Melissa McCarthy as sea witch, Ursula. The relative newcomer Bailey can also be seen in the upcoming feature, The Color Purple.

Also making its foray into theaters is the Sebastian Maniscalco/Robert De Niro comedy, About My Father. Starting out in 2,464 movie houses, the film follows Sebastian, who, when encouraged by his fiancée to invite his immigrant father to a weekend get-together with her wealthy family, finds himself in a culture clash no one will soon forget. The comedy is co-written by Maniscalco and is directed by Laura Terruso.

Also opening this weekend, The Machine is the big screen debut of stand-up comedian Bert Kreischer. Launching in 2,409 venues, the film is based on one of Kreischer’s true-life comedy routines and follows the kidnapping of him and his father by those he wronged 20 years ago whilst drunk in Russia. Screen veteran Mark Hamill portrays Kreischer’s father in the movie.

Briarcliff Entertainment and Open Road Films is releasing the action-thriller, Kandahar in 2,105 locations this week. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh and starring Gerard Butler, the film follows CIA operative Tom Harris (Butler) who, after an intelligence leak puts his life at risk, must fight his way out alongside his Afghan translator to an extraction point in Kandahar.

We don’t have an official theater count for A24’s You Hurt My Feelings, but it’s expected to play in between 500 and 1,000 movie theaters this weekend.

Rounding out the top five widest releases this week is the previously mentioned Fast X, increasing from its opening count of 4,046 to 4,088 locations. Occupying the spot as third-widest release this week is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as the latest Marvel film is still widely available in 3,940 movie houses. Coming in fourth is the $1.2 billion worldwide earner, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, showing in 3,148 theaters.

Looking ahead to next week we see the launch of two wide releases, one being the highly anticipated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The superhero movie is expected to arrive in about 4,000 locations. Lastly, the horror flick, The Boogeyman, will release in approximately 3,000 cinemas according to 20th Century Studios

Worthy of a mention, after an incredible 23-weeks on the chart, and a worldwide haul of $2.32 billion, Avatar: The Way of Water will make its departure from theaters. The sequel spent its first six weeks as the widest release by playing in over 4,000 locations during that time.

Theater Counts for May 26

Theater Counts for June 2

Bruce Nash

Filed under: Theater Counts, Ghostbusters, Fast and the Furious, Spider-Man, The Little Mermaid, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Guardians of the Galaxy, Robert De Niro, Gerard Butler, Mark Hamill, Sebastian Maniscalco, Melissa McCarthy, Ric Roman Waugh, Halle Bailey, Bert Kreischer