Box Office Update: 'Stray Kids' Claims Top Spot; 'Send Help' Follows Close Behind
In an interesting turn of events, the box office is experiencing a quieter weekend, with major film studios opting not to release new titles during the high-profile Super Bowl weekend. This strategic pause created a prime opportunity for the K-pop concert documentary "Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience" to secure the number one position.
This engaging film chronicles the world tour of the popular K-pop group Stray Kids, culminating in their electrifying performance at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. On its opening day, the film earned an impressive estimated $3 million from 1,724 theaters across North America, and projections suggest that it could reach a total domestic gross of around $5 million by the end of the weekend.
Taking the second position was the film "Send Help," which brought in approximately $2.8 million on its second Friday at the domestic box office. This figure reflects a significant 61% drop from its initial debut. Produced by Disney and 20th Century Studios, this darkly comedic thriller features Rachel McAdams as a quirky, resourceful employee caught in a survival situation with her obnoxious younger boss, played by Dylan O’Brien, after they find themselves stranded on a remote island. Expectations indicate that "Send Help" could accumulate between $9 million and $10 million by Sunday, bringing its total domestic earnings to about $34 million. Despite its Friday ranking, it is anticipated that "Send Help" will ultimately lead the box office for the weekend.
The third spot went to Angel Studios' recent release, "Solo Mio," which garnered an estimated $2.7 million from 3,052 theaters. This romantic comedy is expected to finish the weekend with around $6.6 million. The plot follows a man portrayed by Kevin James who, after being left at the altar, decides to embark on his honeymoon solo.
Angel Studios made a notable entrance into the theatrical landscape with their 2023 film "Sound of Freedom," which unexpectedly became a blockbuster hit, grossing $250 million globally. Some of their other recent projects include titles like "David," "The Senior," and "Grow."
In fourth place, we find "Iron Lung," the directorial debut of YouTube sensation Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach, which earned about $2.04 million domestically according to estimates from competitors. This represents a considerable 77% drop from its opening day. Based on a 2022 indie horror video game, the storyline follows a convict navigating a dystopian future where he must scavenge for supplies in a perilous sea of blood. Projections indicate that "Iron Lung" will reach approximately $5.7 million by Sunday, contributing to a total of around $30.7 million in domestic earnings.
Fischbach co-directed the film alongside David Szymanski, the creator of the "Iron Lung" game. He played a multifaceted role in the project, serving as the writer, editor, executive producer, distributor, financier, and even starring in the film. After the film's modest debut, which saw it earn just $21, Fischbach took to his YouTube channel to express heartfelt gratitude to his fans, sharing an emotional moment with them.
In a much lower position at seventh place, the horror film "The Strangers: Chapter 3" managed to draw in $1.58 million on its opening Friday from 2,565 North American theaters. This latest installment in the rebooted "Strangers" trilogy is projected to finish the weekend with around $3.8 million. It features a cast including Madelain Petsch, Gabriel Basso, Froy Gutierrez, and Ema Horvath, and follows the story of a young woman relentlessly pursued by a trio of masked psychopaths.
The original "Strangers" movie debuted in 2008, followed by a sequel, "The Strangers: Prey at Night," released in 2018. In 2024, the franchise was revived with the launch of "The Strangers: Chapter 1," which was succeeded by "The Strangers: Chapter 2" in September 2025. Notably, these earlier films earned $5.1 million and $2.4 million, respectively, on their opening days.
Finally, at number five was Vertical's "Dracula," directed by Luc Besson of "Fifth Element" fame. This film raked in $2.03 million on Friday, with expectations to reach about $4.1 million by the end of the weekend. Caleb Landry Jones takes on the role of the infamous vampire, while Christoph Waltz portrays his iconic adversary, Van Helsing.
