Bob Marley Biopic Beating Madame Web at the Box Office

Madame Web is unlikely to top Bob Marley: One Love over the holiday weekend at the box office. Both films are opening over the Presidents Day weekend, but the Bob Marley biopic is looking likely to top Sony’s Spider-Man spinoff by a considerable margin. Bob Marley: One Love, having already broken records for a film opening on Valentine’s Day, is looking at a six-day total of around $46 million. Madame Web is set to earn approximately $24 million over that same time frame. ComicBook.com’s Kofi Outlaw gave Bob Marley: One Love a review score of 3-out-of-5 stars in his review of the film, commenting on the film’s hagiographic tone.

“One Love is also an undeniably favorable – even reverent – look at Bob Marley, skipping over many of the rougher edges of his life (not to mention the multiple women in it) except for some visual Easter eggs, dialogue references, and (just) one scene of conflict between Bob and Rita that hints at much more,” Outlaw writes. “The smoothed edges are not surprising, given that Rita Marley, her and Bob’s son Ziggy, and daughter Cedella are all producers on the film – with the family’s Tuff Gong Pictures being one of the studios behind it. Compassionate edits are expected, yes, but it results in a biopic that feels more whimsical than real. The 2012 Kevin Macdonald documentary film Marley still stands as the most comprehensive and interesting look at the man behind the myth – but no doubt, Bob Marley: One Love is a beautiful (if indulgent) celebration of that myth. And the love is definitely felt.”

Madame Web . ComicBook.com’s Jenna Anderson gave the film a score of 2.5-out-of-5 stars. In her Madame Web , she writes:

“While Madame Web might not contain the heart-pumping tension, massive franchise connections, or painfully authentic verisimilitude of many of its modern contemporaries, it makes a convincing argument that an entertaining-enough story can still be found outside of those traits. The charisma of its lead heroines and the specificity of its premise prevent it from being too boring, too goofy, or too irredeemable to ignore. For better or for worse, Madame Web further illustrates that Sony’s Spider-Man Universe has potential when not trying to be a modern cinematic universe at all, and instead being a springboard for the most niche genre stories imaginable.”

Argylle, Migration, Wonka, and The Chosen also remain present at the box office this weekend. The full list of the top 10 films at the box office this weekend follows.

1. Bob Marley: One Love

• Opening Weekend
• Weekend: $28.3 million
• Total: $46.2 million 
  

Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley overcomes adversity to become the most famous reggae musician in the world.

Reinaldo Marcus Green directed Bob Marley: One Love from a screenplay they co-wrote with Terence Winter, Frank E. Flowers, and Zach Baylin, based on the life of Bob Marley. The film stars Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, and James Norton.

2. Madame Web

• Opening Weekend
• Weekend: $17.8 million
• Total: $24 million

Cassandra Webb is a New York City paramedic who starts to show signs of clairvoyance. Forced to confront revelations about her past, she must protect three young women from a mysterious adversary who wants them dead.

S. J. Clarkson directed Madame Web from a screenplay she co-wrote with Claire Parker and Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless. The film stars Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, Isabela Merced, Tahar Rahim, Mike Epps, Emma Roberts, and Adam Scott.

3. Argylle

• Week Three
• Weekend: $5 million
• Total: $36.7 million
  

Reclusive author Elly Conway writes best-selling espionage novels about a secret agent named Argylle who’s on a mission to unravel a global spy syndicate. However, when the plots of her books start to mirror the covert actions of a real-life spy organization, the line between fiction and reality begin to blur.

Matthew Vaughn directed Argylle from a screenplay by Jason Fuchs. The film stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, Henry Cavill, Sofia Boutella, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson.

4. Migration

• Week Nine
• Weekend: $4.5 million
• Total: $115.5 million

A family of ducks decides to leave the safety of a New England pond for an adventurous trip to Jamaica. However, their well-laid plans quickly go awry when they get lost and wind up in New York City. The experience soon inspires them to expand their horizons, open themselves up to new friends, and accomplish more than they ever thought possible.

Benjamin Renner directed Migration, with co-director Homsy, from a screenplay written by Mike White. The film’s voice cast includes Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Keegan-Michael Key, Awkwafina, and Danny DeVito.

5. The Chosen Season 4, Episodes 4-6

• Opening Weekend
• Weekend: $4.2 million
• Total: $5 million

Clashing kingdoms. Rival rulers. The enemies of Jesus close in for the kill while His followers struggle to keep up, leaving Him to carry the burden alone. Season 4 promises to deliver where last season’s incredible walking on water finale left off.

Dallas Jenkins created The Chosen. It stars Jonathan Roumie, Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, Noah James, and George H. Xanthis.

6. Wonka

• Week 10
• Weekend: $4 million
• Total: $210.4 million
  

Armed with nothing but a hatful of dreams, young chocolatier Willy Wonka manages to change the world, one delectable bite at a time.

Paul King directed Wonka from a screenplay he co-wrote with Simon Farnaby, based on characters created by Roald Dahl. The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Natasha Rothwell, Tom Davis, Olivia Colman and Hugh Grant.

7. The Beekeeper

• Week Six
• Weekend: $3.37 million
• Total: $60 million
  

One man’s brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after it’s revealed he’s a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as Beekeepers.

David Ayer directed The Beekeeper from a screenplay written by Kurt Wimmer. It stars Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Josh Hutcherson, Bobby Naderi, Minnie Driver, Phylicia Rashad, and Jeremy Irons.

8. Anyone But You

• Week Nine
• Weekend: $2.66 million
• Total: $84.9 million

Despite an amazing first date, Bea and Ben’s initial attraction quickly turns sour. However, when they unexpectedly find themselves at a destination wedding in Australia, they pretend to be the perfect couple to keep up appearances.

Will Gluck directed Anyone but You from a screenplay he co-wrote with Ilana Wolpert, adapting and modernizing the William Shakespeare play Much Ado About Nothing. Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell star in the film.

9. Lisa Frankenstein

• Week Two
• Weekend: $2.2 million
• Total: $7.8 million
  

A misunderstood teenager and a reanimated Victorian corpse embark on a murderous journey together to find love, happiness, and a few missing body parts.

Zelda Williams directed Lisa Frankenstein from a screenplay written by Diablo Cody. The film stars Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Liza Soberano, Henry Eikenberry, Joe Chrest, and Carla Gugino.

10 Land of Bad

• Opening Weekend
• Total: $2.2 million

When a Delta Force team is ambushed in enemy territory, a rookie officer refuses to abandon them. Their only hope lies with an Air Force drone pilot as the eyes in the sky during a brutal 48-hour battle for survival.

William Eubank directed Land of Bad from a screenplay they co-wrote with David Frigerio. The film stars Liam Hemsworth, Russell Crowe, Luke Hemsworth, Ricky Whittle, and Milo Ventimiglia.