Mean Girls Musical Debuts at No. 1

The Success of Mean Girls

Mean Girls, the new movie musical, has made a remarkable debut at the box office, securing the top spot in its opening weekend. Starring Angourie Rice as Cady Heron, the musical is an adaptation of the 2018 Broadway production of the same name, which was based on the 2004 non-musical teen comedy movie. The screenplay, written by Tina Fey, has been a key element in every iteration of the story since 2004. The movie's plot revolves around Cady Heron, a high school transfer student who becomes embroiled in a plot to take down Queen Bee Regina George, played by Reneé Rapp.

Angourie Rice as Cady in Mean Girls

According to Variety, the projected 4-day holiday weekend opening gross for Mean Girls is $32 million at the domestic box office, surpassing the $24.4 million opening gross of the original movie. Despite its $36 million production cost, the musical has already earned back most of its budget, indicating its early success. This achievement is particularly noteworthy as the musical was initially planned as a Paramount+ streaming exclusive before shifting to a theatrical release, expanding its potential for profitability beyond the box office.

Path to Profitability

While the Mean Girls musical has approached the total of its budget, it still has a way to go before reaching its break-even point, which typically requires earning back at least twice its production budget. However, the musical has shown promising signs of success and has multiple avenues for profitability beyond traditional box office earnings. Its potential to attract subscribers to the Paramount+ streaming platform, similar to the path taken by the 2022 hit movie Smile, adds to its potential for profitability.

Smile, with a domestic opening of $22.6 million and a worldwide total of $217.4 million, provides a compelling benchmark for the potential success of Mean Girls. Given the musical's higher opening weekend and the positive word of mouth it has generated, it is well-positioned to surpass the break-even point before leaving theaters. Furthermore, the limited competition from other wide releases in the near future presents a favorable landscape for the musical's continued success during its crucial initial weeks.

Future Outlook

The future looks bright for the Mean Girls musical, with its strong opening performance and potential for sustained success. Its early achievements, including surpassing the original movie's opening gross and recouping most of its budget, indicate a positive trajectory towards profitability. The musical's shift from a streaming exclusive to a theatrical release has expanded its avenues for profitability, and its ability to draw subscribers to Paramount+ is an additional factor in determining its success.

With the limited competition from other major releases in the coming weeks, the musical has a clear path to further growth and profitability. The success of Smile, a comparable movie with a substantial worldwide gross, provides a promising precedent for the potential success of Mean Girls. Overall, the musical is well-positioned to continue its successful run and achieve profitability in the near future.