Oct 2, 2023

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” tops domestic box office ahead of ‘Saw X’ and ”The Creator

Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Pictures and Spin Masters' “PAW Patrol:” topped the North American box office over the weekend, grossing an estimated $23 million more than the debut film.

The family-friendly sequel was screened in 3,989 theaters and averaged a weekend-high $5,765 per theater, beating out debuts Saw X and The Creator for second and third place.

“The Mighty Movie” is directed by Cal Blanker and takes place in the canine world of the popular PAW Patrol television and film franchise. This time, the puppies of PAW Patrol are given super powers and transformed into Mighty Pups. This is an especially exciting development for the youngest, Skye, who must learn that even the smallest dog can have great power.

Critics and audiences alike were impressed with the film, and strong word of mouth helped this sequel surpass PAW Patrol: The Movie's $13 million opening weekend in 2021. However, that film was released simultaneously on Paramount+ as distributors were still navigating the early post-Covid theatrical situation.

Another factor that worked in PAW Patrol's favor was that the film had little competition for kids and families. Paramount's other title, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, while down from 1,751 to just 1,004 theaters last week, is still going strong, grossing $176.7 million in theaters worldwide and $117.5 million domestically to date. It is nearing the end of its run with $117.5 million worldwide and $117.5 million domestically.

Worldwide, “The Mighty Movie” was the second-biggest grossing film of any movie, behind China's “Under the Light”; “PAW Patrol” also took in $23.1 million from foreign markets, bringing its worldwide weekend gross to $46.1 million. According to Variety, this is an impressive opening weekend for a film that cost only $30 million to produce.