Paramount’s biographical film Bob Marley: One Love has hit a high note at the box office, raking in a massive $52 million domestically over the Valentine’s Day-Presidents Day weekend. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, the film chronicles the life of the iconic Jamaican musician and Rastafarian, starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley. The film’s success exceeded expectations, setting new opening day records for a music biopic in several international markets and becoming Jamaica’s biggest film opening of all time.
In contrast, Sony’s Madame Web, a superhero film featuring Spider-Man-related characters, failed to capture audiences’ attention, opening to a disappointing $26.2 million domestically. The film, starring Dakota Johnson, received poor reviews from critics and audiences alike, with a 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a C+ CinemaScore.
The diverse audience for Bob Marley: One Love reflects the universal appeal of Marley’s message of peace, love, and unity, with Black moviegoers comprising 40% of ticket buyers. Females made up 56% of the audience, highlighting the film’s broad appeal.
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On the international front, One Love earned an impressive $29 million, bringing its global total to $80 million against a $70 million budget. Meanwhile, Madame Web struggled overseas, opening to $25.7 million from 61 markets for a global start of $51.5 million.
The contrasting performances of these two films highlight the changing landscape of superhero films, with audiences becoming more discerning in their choices. As studios like Sony regroup, the success of films like Bob Marley: One Love underscores the enduring power of storytelling and the impact of music on people’s lives.