Initially, it seemed that "Gran Turismo" and Warner Bros.' "Barbie" were in a close race, both earning just over $17 million at the box office. However, the final figures released on Monday by the studios clarified the outcome: "Gran Turismo" secured the top spot with $17.4 million in North American theaters, while "Barbie" trailed behind at $15.1 million.
In a departure from the norm, Sony included earnings from Thursday night pre-shows in "Gran Turismo's" total, amounting to $1.4 million. Additionally, the studio factored in $3.9 million from other preview screenings, held before Thursday, adding to the film's overall performance.
Originally slated for a wide release on August 11, "Gran Turismo" faced unforeseen challenges due to the ongoing actors strike. In response, Sony strategized by opting for limited preview screenings and fan events for two weeks leading up to a national rollout this past weekend.
The weekend presented an atypical situation in multiplexes across the country, as U.S. movie theaters celebrated the second annual National Cinema Day on Sunday. With $4 tickets available for all films and showtimes, this promotional event may have influenced the box office results. The initial Sunday estimate for "Barbie" appeared optimistic at $7.75 million, in contrast to its actual total of $5.7 million.
Though "Barbie" may have technically sold more tickets, the studios do not disclose individual admissions. However, the daily earnings indicate that "Barbie" held a slight edge on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, "Barbie" collected $5.4 million compared to "Gran Turismo's" $4.1 million. Similarly, on Sunday, "Barbie" brought in $5.7 million, surpassing "Gran Turismo's" $4.7 million.
The significant disparity arose on Friday, with "Gran Turismo" reporting $8.6 million (inclusive of pre-show and preview screenings), while "Barbie" secured $4 million (exclusively Friday earnings without Thursday night's contributions).
These figures highlight the variability of Sunday box office estimates and illustrate that the competing movies do not always adhere to the same release strategies or reporting rules.