by: Alana Brown-Davis
For a sequel that was released twenty-two years after its predecessor, ‘Freakier Friday’ is doing pretty well in theaters. Typically, producers have chosen to put sequels, spin-offs etc of beloved films on streaming services i.e. ‘Happy Gilmore 2’. It’s a safer option especially as so many metrics put streaming on top with everything else underneath. We see this especially in cable TV. Since the pandemic, movie theaters have been struggling to make a profit in the box office. Watching movies at home on various streaming platforms has proven to be more convenient and much cheaper than buying a small bag of popcorn and a small soda that costs $12 in addition to the movie ticket.
‘Freakier Friday’ could be a statement against why choosing the safer option might not always be the better one. The movie has opened with $15.5 million internationally and $44.5 million globally. The budget was $42 million which means the film will meet its marker. It’s also important to note that this movie benefited from word to mouth, one of the biggest promotional devices of cinema. Against box office leader ‘Weapons’, the film is doing incredibly well, even more when you add in other summer movies into the conversation.
‘Freakier Friday’ Gets Even Freakier
‘Freakier Friday’ brings back the pairing of Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, remaining loyal to the 2003 film that’s been a staple of Disney movies. The two play mother and daughter Tess and Anna Coleman. Anna is now a music producer with a daughter Harper who is being raised by her and Tess. In the film, Harper frequently bumps heads with her classmate British expatriate Lily, resulting in an incident where Anna is called. When Anna and Lily’s father, Eric, meet in the principal’s office, the two fall in love. They inevitably become engaged.
Chad Michael Murray returns in his role as Jake Austin.