'Transformers One' trips at the box office as 'Beetlejuice' keeps lead

It got the good reviews & audience reception yet Transformers One trips a little bit when it comes to its actual opening weekend number. The animated film opened to $25 million in 3,978 theatres for the weekend of September 20-22, 2024.

Transformers One. (C) Paramount

It's not exactly easy to transition from a live-action movie franchise to an animated one as proven by its fellow Paramount-produced film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem which opened to $28 million last year but fortunately legged out to $118 million by the end of its run - largely thanks to its strategic release date. 

The opening of Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse wasn't exactly the best ever back in 2018 ($35 million) and it had to do a lot of lifting throughout its run ($190 million domestic), ranging from dominating the music charts to its Oscar win. Sony eventually reaped what it planted when its sequel saw a significant box office boost.

Back with Transformers One, aside from the "wow" factor of Spider-verse, perhaps it's the really brand that's souring audiences. While Bumblebee enjoyed good reception among audiences and critics, Rise of the Beasts did not. That recent Transformers movie became the lowest-grossing installment in the series and Transformers One had to suffer its consequences.

Switching to animation means possibly lower budget and One was produced at $75 million - lower than the usual nine-digit figure budget films of this franchise gets. This means the bar is lower to reach break-even. Critics and audience seem to like this one too with 88% Rotten Tomatoes score and 'A' Cinemascore. There's hope for a leggy run as well but it has to really come. 

What really topped the box office this weekend is Beetlejuice Beetlejuice which enjoyed another solid -49% drop this weekend with $26 million. In three weeks, the long-awaited sequel has now banked $226 million domestically. 

Speak No Evil also collected a few more bucks this weekend with $5.9 million, down 48 percent last weekend for a two-week total of $21.7 million.

Lionsgate's dump continues this weekend with Halle Berry's horror Never Let Go. Playing in 2,667 cinemas, the new film opened to just $4.5 million. It received a typical 'C+' Cinemascore so it won't likely attract a bigger crowd other than what it already got.

In more positive news, MUBI flexed its potential capabilities this weekend with The Substance. Fresh off its buzzy premiere at Cannes, the horror starring Demi Moore opened to $3.1 million in 1,949 locations. It even got a solid 'B' Cinemascore which could bode well for its longevity. 

Other openers this week include Jung Kook: I Am Still ($1.4 million) and the re-release of Whiplash ($ 578K).