A digital release will rarely impact a movie’s theatrical momentum, especially if it’s already doing well. This trend has been observed recently with films such asDune: Part Two,Kung Fu Panda 4andGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire. We can add a new title to that list now. Amazon MGM’sChallengerslanded on digital last week, but reported its softest drop yet at the domestic box office while also nearing a massive milestone globally. Released less than a month ago, the romantic sports drama has quietly continued a resurgence for mid-budget studio movies along withCivil War.
With $43 million domestically and another $35 million from overseas markets,Challengers’cumulative worldwide gross stands at $78 million. The movie debuted at the number one spot domestically, generating $15 million in its first weekend and cementingZendaya’s box office pull following the global success ofDune: Part Two. Also starringJosh O’ConnorandMike Faist,Challengerswas given a major promotional push by Amazon, and was released internationally by Warner Bros.
Unlike previous Amazon movies such asSaltburn, andThe Boys in the Boat, which didn’t get much of an overseas release at all,Challengersplayed far and wide. It also avoided the fate of fellow Amazon titles such asThe Idea of You,Ricky StanickyandRoad House, all of which debuted directly on the Prime Video streaming platform. Thefilm’s hefty $55 million budgetmight sound like a lot for what is essentially a three-hander set in and around tennis courts, but its success signals a return to form for exactly the kind of movies that studios had stopped investing in.
‘Challengers’ Was Originally Slated for a 2023 Release
Challengersfollows the intersecting lives of three tennis professionals — Zendaya plays a coach while O’Connor and Faist star as warring players — across a decade. The movie debuted to excellent reviews, and appears to have settled atan 88% approval ratingon the review aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes. It also earned a B+ CinemaScore, and has a 73% audience rating on RT. Inhis review, Collider’sRoss Bonaimedescribed it as “one of the twistiest, most compelling, andnonstop horniestfilms of Guadagnino’s career.”
Challengersis by far directorLuca Guadagnino’s most successful film, generating over $35 million more at the global box office than his previous biggest hit,Call Me By Your Name. Guadagnino’s direction was praised, as was the film’s tense, non-linear editing, and his use ofTrent ReznorandAtticus Ross’ thumping background score. You can watchChallengersat home and in theaters, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
