“Thor” may have been defeated this weekend. On Friday night it was beaten by “The Best Man Holiday,” a warmhearted romantic comedy. Even if the sequel Marvel movie finishes at number 1 this weekend, it won’t be the box office winner. “Best Man Holiday,” a Universal comedy and sequel to “The Best Man” is giving “Thor” a run for its money that no one expected. “Holiday” is on track for $31 million total for its opening weekend. It will finish a whisker above or below “Thor 2.”
Of course “Thor 2” already has $360 million worldwide after two weeks, so no one is sobbing. But $31 million for “Holiday” should be a wake up call to the studios. It’s on a par with the April 2012’s opening weekend of “Think Like a Man” with $33 million. Sophisticated black centric comedies are holding their own with Tyler Perry’s laugh fests. And that’s great.
“Best Man Holiday” has seven– count ’em, seven- major actors: Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Morris Chestnut, Terrence Howard, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau, and Sanaa Lathan. It also boasts appearances by two major singers– Anthony Hamilton and Marsha Ambrosious. When you have that level of talent, the audiences will come. And they have.
