Ticket sales during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend are low as it’s typically a slow period. However, the buddy comedy, One of Them Days, has secured the top spot at the North American box office. According to studio estimates, Sony’s R-rated film generated $11.6 million, edging out Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King. With a modest budget of $14 million, the film is expected to recoup by Monday.
Black Female Comedy Dominates Box Office
Following the 2017 film, Girls Trip, One of Them Days is the first theatrical comedy led by a black female cast. KeKe Palmer and SZA star in this buddy comedy as friends and roommates, who must scrounge up rent money to avoid eviction. Garnering widespread critical acclaim, the film boasts an impressive 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite the success of One of Them Days over the weekend, the overall performance at the box office has been lackluster. According to Comscore data, Friday’s, Saturday’s, and Sunday’s total box office earnings fell short of $80 million. As a result, 2025’s Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend has the weakest box office performance since 1997.
Top 3 Films Box Office Performance
Comscore’s senior media analyst states that the weekend’s release of One of Them Days is successful despite the sluggish box office performance. Trailing close behind in second place, Walt Disney Co.’s Mufasa: The Lion King earned $11.5 million during its fifth weekend in theaters. Notably, the Barry Jenkins-directed prequel has generated an impressive $588 million globally.
In third place, Blumhouse’s horror film, Wolf Man, accumulated 1o.6 million from 3,354 North American theaters, a relatively modest start for the new release. Starring Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner, Leigh Whannell’s monster tale received lukewarm reviews from critics. Overall, the horror film has a modest 53% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Although horror movies often defy critical reception in their opening weekends, audience response was also underwhelming. The film garnered a lackluster C- CinemaScore in exit polls. Both Blumhouse and Universal Pictures collaborated on the film, which was produced on a budget of $25 million. Despite its modest box office performance, the monster movie is expected to reach $12 million by the end of Monday’s holiday.
Significant MLK Weekend Box Office Performances
While Sonic the Hedgehog 3 secured fourth place with $8.6 million, Den of Thieves 2 claimed fifth with $6.6 million. Additionally, Brady Corbet’s post-war epic, The Brutalist, has generated nearly $2 million over the weekend after expanding to 388 screens. According to A24, the film sold out showings in 70mm and IMAX formats. Lastly, over 1 million incarcerated individuals across 46 states were given access to A24’s re-released drama, Sing Sing. In the past, the MLK holiday weekend has had numerous significant box office successes. For instance, Bad Boys for Life had a three-day opening of $62.5 million in 2020 and American Sniper earned $89.3 million in 2016.
KeKe Palmer’s Reason for Joining Comedy Film
Keke Palmer joined One of Them Days because of its relatable storyline. For Palmer, the narrative’s focus on female friendship and camaraderie drew her to the film. As producer and actress, she wanted to create a movie that powerfully centered women, while paying homage to classic films in the genre. Interestingly, she found inspiration in other iconic buddy comedies such as Let’s Do It Again and Bad Boys, which featured male leads.
Moreover, Palmer emphasized that social commentary was an important aspect of the iconic comedy film, Friday, which was also used as inspiration for One of Them Days. Specifically, Ice Cube’s film tackled serious issues, including gun violence, to convey a powerful message about alternative non-violent conflict resolutions. Unfortunately, this commentary is often overlooked as many viewers prefer to focus on its humor.
The Hidden Message of One of Them Days
Despite the laughs, director Lawrence Lamont’s One of Them Days offers more than just comedy. Beneath its humorous surface, the movie focuses on larger social issues with themes of economic struggle and financial hardship. Known for her work on HBO’s Insecure, Issa Rae notes that the comedy reflects the difficulties of navigating a challenging economy and the prevalence of hustle culture.
