Bob Marley's 'One Love' jams to $17.9 million, leaving 'Madame Web' entangled

The biopic Bob Marley: One Love continued its strong start at the box office, grossing $17.9 million by Thursday, significantly outperforming the superhero film Madame Web.

One Love, starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as the reggae legend, raked in $3.8 million on Thursday, a 73% drop from its impressive $14.1 million opening day haul. This drop is typical for films not released on holidays, as Wednesday's Valentine's Day crowd often inflates opening day numbers.

Despite the drop, One Love remains the clear box office leader. Analysts predict the film will land between $30 million and $35 million over the six-day Presidents Day weekend, exceeding initial expectations.

Meanwhile, Madame Web, Sony's latest entry into the Spider-Man universe, struggled to find its footing. The film debuted with a lacklustre $2.2 million on Wednesday and only managed to add $1.3 million on Thursday, bringing its total to a disappointing $3.5 million.

Early projections suggest Madame Web might only reach $20 million over the long weekend, falling short of Sony's hopes. The film's lukewarm critical reception and competition from One Love likely contributed to its underwhelming performance.

The contrasting fortunes of these two films highlight the power of established icons. While superhero movies generally dominate the box office, One Love demonstrates that a compelling story about a beloved figure can still resonate with audiences and challenge the dominance of established franchises.