Street Fighter Debuts with $4M Previews Despite Mixed Reviews; Holmes Doc Surpasses Expectations

Key points

• Paramount and Legendary’s 'Street Fighter' earned $4 million in Thursday previews, with an expected opening of $25-35 million. The film cost $82 million to produce and is the first release under Paramount’s global distribution deal with Legendary.
• A24’s documentary 'You Can See Everything' about Elizabeth Holmes made $1.75-2 million in previews, aiming for a $7-10 million opening. The film cost $7 million and has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic score, potentially breaking records for a non-music documentary.
• Disney’s 'Whalefall' made $900,000 in previews, targeting a $10-12 million opening. The $60 million thriller stars Austin Abrams and has positive reviews.
• Focus Features’ 'Sense and Sensibility' made $1.15 million in previews, with an expected opening of $5-8 million. The $25 million adaptation stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles.
• Critics gave 'Street Fighter' a 43% Rotten Tomatoes score, praising its visuals and action but criticizing its script and tone. The film is described as 'colorful, weird, noisy nonsense' that is 'affectionately made for fans' but tonally messy.

Background

This weekend’s releases include the first major film under the new Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, 'Street Fighter,' which is projected to open with $70 million globally. The Elizabeth Holmes documentary 'You Can See Everything' has been building hype since its surprise debut at the Telluride Film Festival last month. The film was shot over four years and cost less than $10 million, with a marketing budget also under $10 million.

How outlets are covering it

Variety and Deadline both report strong preview numbers for 'Street Fighter' and 'You Can See Everything,' but emphasize different aspects. Variety focuses on the box office potential and the competitive landscape, while Deadline highlights the critical reception and the potential for 'You Can See Everything' to break records. Rotten Tomatoes provides a detailed breakdown of critical reviews for 'Street Fighter,' noting its 43% score and mixed reception. AP News offers a more critical perspective, describing 'Street Fighter' as 'a mess' and emphasizing its tonal issues and lack of narrative depth.

Why it matters

The strong preview numbers for 'Street Fighter' and 'You Can See Everything' indicate a diverse and competitive box office landscape. The success of 'You Can See Everything' could set a new benchmark for documentaries, while the mixed reception of 'Street Fighter' highlights the challenges of adapting video games to film. The performance of these films will also impact the future of the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger and the distribution strategies of major studios.

What to watch

The full box office results for 'Street Fighter,' 'You Can See Everything,' 'Whalefall,' and 'Sense and Sensibility' will be available after the weekend. The critical reception of 'Street Fighter' may influence the decision to produce a sequel, while the success of 'You Can See Everything' could lead to increased interest in documentary films. The performance of these films will also provide insights into the effectiveness of the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger and the distribution strategies of major studios.