Two holdovers, not new releases, now drive the mid-May box office as theaters wait for a Memorial Day jolt.

Reports indicate Lionsgate’s Michael and 20th Century Studios’ Devil Wears Prada 2 will battle for the top spot this weekend, with each title tracking above $20 million in its current frame. The contest matters because it shows how much the market still depends on staying power between major tentpoles, especially in a corridor that often struggles to generate momentum on its own.

The weekend’s real story is not a breakout newcomer, but the strength of films already in theaters.

Michael also appears to have crossed a major global benchmark, with the Michael Jackson biopic passing $600 million worldwide according to the preview. That haul gives the film another layer of importance beyond the weekend race: it signals that music-driven biographical dramas can still pull broad audiences when they connect across markets. Meanwhile, Devil Wears Prada 2 shows the enduring appeal of recognizable studio brands and older-skewing moviegoers who continue to support theatrical releases.

Key Facts

  • Michael and Devil Wears Prada 2 are expected to contend for No. 1 this weekend.
  • Both films are reportedly tracking for more than $20 million in their current weekends.
  • Michael has passed $600 million worldwide, according to the preview.
  • The box office remains in a holding pattern before Disney and Lucasfilm’s Mandalorian and Grogu arrives over Memorial Day weekend.

The broader picture looks just as important as the leaderboard. This stretch of May often exposes whether the theatrical market has enough depth to sustain audience interest between event releases. Right now, the answer seems mixed: the audience has not vanished, but it has concentrated around a small number of known quantities. That dynamic helps exhibitors in the short term, even as it underscores how heavily the calendar still leans on franchise launches and headline titles.

What happens next will shape the early summer narrative. If Mandalorian and Grogu delivers over Memorial Day weekend, it could turn a steady but cautious market into a stronger seasonal run. If not, the industry may keep leaning on durable holdovers like Michael and Devil Wears Prada 2 to carry the load. Either way, this weekend offers a clear signal: consistency, not novelty, keeps the box office moving right now.