Heading into the long weekend, Universal Pictures' reboot of "The Wolfman" is expected to climb to No. 1 at the domestic box office. But Sony's R-rated buddy comedy "One of These Days" may have the last laugh.

"One of These Days" ranked second with $11.6 million over the weekend and is expected to take in $14 million during the four-day holiday. Despite having a budget of only $14 million, this critically acclaimed comedy is shaping up to be a major commercial win for Sony. Meanwhile, "Werewolf" debuted in third place with $10.5 million over the weekend and a lower-than-expected $12 million on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday. The film cost just $25 million to make, which must have been a relief for the studio, as critics and audiences alike disliked the remake. "The Wolfman" has a CinemaScore of "C-" and a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 53%.

Overall, it was one of the slowest Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekends on record, with all movies hitting $100 million in theaters. Neither "The Wolf Man" nor "One of the Days" are strong enough to dethrone defending champion Disney's "Mufasa: The Lion King." The family film grossed $11.9 million over the weekend and was expected to gross $15.5 million as of Monday, making it one of the lowest No. 1 openings during the Martin Luther King holiday. After a weak start before Christmas, "Mufasa" has reversed its theatrical fortunes, taking in $209.8 million domestically and $588.4 million worldwide so far.

"One of These Days" should get a critical boost, earning an "A-" on CinemaScore and a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Directed by Lawrence Lamont and produced by Issa Rae, the film follows two roommates as they race against time to avoid eviction after one of their boyfriends steals the rent. Although dramatic comedies have always been an endangered species, Sony is one of the few major studios able to keep the genre alive, and it's done so by keeping costs in line with market realities.

“This is a great start,” said David A. Gross, who runs Franchise Entertainment Research, a film consulting firm. "The three-day figure is twice the average for the genre. The film cost $14 million and will be very profitable upon release in all ancillary markets."

"The Wolfman" also grossed US$4.83 million in 53 overseas markets, bringing its global box office to US$15.3 million. Director Leigh Whannell's adaptation of the 1941 film starring Christopher Abbot tells the story of a man who is bitten by a mysterious predator and begins to transform into a dangerous creature. A story about threatening the lives of family members. Whannell, whose credits include "Saw" and "Insidious," led Universal's 2020 horror remake "The Invisible Man" to box office success and helped revive the studio's troubled monster universe. After a failed attempt to create an interconnected universe based on its vast catalog of classic monsters, Universal chose to focus on low-budget standalone features - albeit with mixed results. The Invisible Man was a triumph, but 2023's Layfield (starring Nicolas Cage as Dracula and Nicholas Hoult as his unhinged henchman) flopped with $26 million worldwide . Director James Wan will once again try to remake "The Creature from the Black Lagoon".

"Ley Whannell was an important horror talent, but audiences weren't enthusiastic," Gross said. "It was a mistake, but it wasn't a disaster."

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