Beat it, Miranda Priestley? The Devil Wears Prada 2 has spent the last two weekends ruling the box office, but Michael is looking poised to moonwalk its way back to the top spot.
The Michael Jackson biopic continues to show impressive staying power heading into its fourth weekend, with forecasts suggesting it could earn around $25 million domestically as it closes in on $600 million globally. After holding especially well last weekend despite losing premium screens to Mortal Kombat II, Lionsgate’s crowd-pleasing musical drama appears to have the edge in what’s shaping up to be a red-hot race to the finish.
But don’t count out The Devil Wears Prada 2 just yet. Disney’s sequel continues to benefit from strong word of mouth and nostalgia-fueled turnout, with projections placing it right behind Michael in the low-to-mid-$20 million range. After surprising analysts by holding remarkably well over Mother’s Day weekend, the fashion sequel has already become one of the year’s biggest breakout hits — and another first-place finish is still very much on the table.
Meanwhile, Mortal Kombat II is expected to take a noticeable second-weekend hit after its fan-driven debut. Warner Bros.’ video game sequel should still deliver another solid $15 million to $17 million, though losing some premium-format screens and a front-loaded audience could lead to a steeper drop than the films above it. Even so, the sequel has already proven to be a much stronger theatrical performer than its pandemic-era predecessor.
The biggest newcomer of the weekend is Focus Features’ Obsession, which is quickly emerging as another potential horror sleeper. Early tracking has the thriller landing somewhere between $10 million and $15 million domestically, fueled by strong reviews and solid pre-sales. With a 95% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and growing online buzz, the film appears to be connecting with audiences looking for the next horror hit.
Meanwhile, In the Grey hopes to lure in action fans and Guy Ritchie loyalists with a projected debut around $4 million to $7 million. The Black Bear release starring Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal arrives after a female-skewing Mother’s Day frame and hopes to benefit from audiences looking for something more action-driven this weekend.
Amazon MGM’s Is God Is is also expanding semi-wide after building buzz on the festival circuit. While it’s expected to open more modestly, the revenge thriller could still carve out attention among arthouse crowds and younger moviegoers.
Rounding out the weekend, The Sheep Detectives is expected stay within the top five, while Paramount is hoping nostalgia kicks in with theatrical reissues of Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick timed to the original film’s 40th anniversary.
New releases
Obsession
Director: Curry Barker
Distributor: Focus Features
After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price. The horror movie has a running time of one hour, 48 minutes, and is rated R. Obsession is certified “fresh” with a 95% score per the aggregated critic reviews at Rotten Tomatoes; “universal acclaim” from reviews compiled by Metacritic resulted in an overall score of 83%.
In the Grey
Director: Guy Ritchie
Distributor: Black Bear
A covert team of elite operatives are living in the shadows. When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, they’re sent to take it back-an impossible heist that erupts into a deadly game of strategy, deception and survival. The action flick has a running time of one hour, 38 minutes, and is rated R. As of this writing, In the Grey has no critical consensus on Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic.
Is God Is
Director: Aleshea Harris
Distributor: Amazon MGM Studios
Two sisters embark on an epic quest for revenge; confronting a charged family history that will push them to extraordinary lengths. The mystery-drama has a running time of one hour, 39 minutes, and is rated R. Is God Is is certified “fresh” with a 98% score per the aggregated critic reviews at Rotten Tomatoes; “universal acclaim” from reviews compiled by Metacritic resulted in an overall score of 89%.
Here are Gold Derby’s predicted box-office rankings for the top five over the May 8 — 10 weekend:
1. Michael — $25 million
2. The Devil Wears Prada 2 — $24 million
3. Mortal Kombat II — $16 million
4. Obsession — $12 million
5. The Sheep Detectives — $8.5 million
2026 box-office hits: Every movie that made more than $100 million
