Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien in Send Help
‘Send Help’ Tops Weekend Box Office, First Lady Doc ‘Melania’ Beats Expectations
February 1, 2026
Disney-owned 20th Century Studios’ survival thriller Send Help generated more than $20 million in projected domestic opening weekend ticket sales (plus $8 million internationally) through Feb. 1. It was enough to edge out YouTube personality Markiplier’s (a.k.a. Mark Fischback with 38 million followers) sci-fi horror drama Iron Lung, which brought in $18 million in opening revenue on a self-financed $3 million budget.
Amazon MGM Studios’ controversial First Lady documentary Melania topped expectations with more than $7 million in ticket sales to land at No. 3 over the weekend. The film, directed by Brett Ratner, had a $40 million up-front production cost (including $25 million to Melania Trump), in addition to a reported $35 million in marketing costs.
Despite the politically charged film likely not being profitable, Amazon remains upbeat on its long-term prospects. Industry estimates had the film opening at around $5 million.
“This momentum is an important first step in what we see as a long-tail lifecycle for both the film and the forthcoming docu-series, extending well beyond the theatrical window and into what we believe will be a significant run for both on our [Prime Video streaming] service,” Kevin Wilson, head of domestic theatrical distribution at Amazon MGM, said in a statement.
David A. Gross, with industry newsletter FranchiseRE, said that despite critical reviews calling the film “propaganda, without insight, failed hagiography, orchestrated, superficial and boring,” it was an excellent opening for a political documentary, at more than double the average for the genre.
“As good as this opening is for a documentary, for any other film, with $75 million in costs and limited foreign potential, it would be a problem,” Gross wrote in a post. “But this is a political investment, not a for-profit movie venture, and if it helps Amazon with regulatory, taxation, tariff or other government issues, then it will pay back; $75 million is insignificant to Amazon.”
Meanwhile, Gross said the opening for Send Help shows director Sam Rami’s horror/thriller mastery.
“He knows what he’s doing,” he said. “The film is extremely well cast, with Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. This is a two-hander; the two leads and their relationship are the movie. This is terrific, broad-appeal entertainment.”
Elsewhere, Gross said moviegoer appeal for Iron Lung could be front-loaded and play quickly.
“[The movie] is an extension of the Markiplier online phenomenon,” Gross wrote. “This kind of thing happens a couple times a year when a fan frenzy comes to the movies from another medium. It’s good news every time; it jolts the market with fresh energy.”
Black Bear’s ‘R’-rated actioner Shelter, starring Jason Statham, opened to $5.5 million, a weak start for a movie with a reported $50 million production budget, excluding marketing costs.
The movie is directed by Ric Roman Waugh, whose actioners Greenland and Angel Has Fallen — both starring Gerard Butler — topped expectations.
“This is a weak opening for an original Statham action thriller,” Gross wrote. The weekend start is below average for the genre and for the actor.
“Statham has a strong international following and his pictures play well in ancillary markets, so it can make up some ground there,” Gross said.
Finally, Lionsgate’s enduring box office hit The Housemaid added $3.5 million in revenue, upping its domestic tally after seven weeks to near $121 million.
Columbia Pictures’ 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple saw another $1.6 million for the weekend, bringing its total domestic gross to $23.7 million.
The studio’s comedic remake of Anaconda made $4 million in revenue from 63 overseas markets, bringing its international tally to $62.3 million for a worldwide gross of $122 million.
Paramount Pictures’ animal horror film Primate saw $4.2 million in ticket sales, which included $775,000 domestically and $3.4 million across foreign markets.
Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!