'Mean Girls' Musical Film Tops Box Office with $32 Million Over Holiday Weekend

Originally Intended for Streaming, the Film's Success Follows a Marketing Strategy That Downplayed its Musical Aspect

Paramount's 'Mean Girls' musical film, an adaptation of the 2004 comedy and 2018 Broadway show, topped the box office over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, earning $28 million in its first three days and $32 million over the four-day stretch.
The film was initially intended for a straight-to-streaming release on Paramount+, but was moved to a theatrical release after positive test screenings.
Despite being a musical, the studio deliberately downplayed the musical aspect in its marketing to avoid alienating potential viewers. However, some viewers were reportedly 'disappointed' by the genre.
Original 'Mean Girls' stars Tina Fey and Tim Meadows reprised their roles in the new film, and Lindsay Lohan made a surprise cameo.
The film has received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its fresh take on the original and others criticizing its faithfulness to the 2004 film.