The Ebenezer box office story is off to a closely watched start, with Paramount’s dark holiday release earning $1.5 million in previews ahead of its full weekend rollout. As one of the first major theatrical bets from Paramount’s post-Skydance merger era, the film is drawing extra attention not only for its Christmas-season positioning, but also for Johnny Depp’s return to a non-franchise leading role.
Directed by Ti West and carrying a PG-13 rating, Ebenezer is aiming to blend spooky seasonal appeal with family-friendly accessibility. Early figures suggest the studio is positioning the movie for a possible No. 1 domestic opening, while also counting on a broad international launch to push the title toward a sizable worldwide debut.
Ebenezer Box Office Preview Start Signals a Promising Opening
The early Ebenezer box office number of $1.5 million came from previews that began at 2 p.m., giving industry watchers an initial read on audience interest. Paramount is reportedly targeting at least $20 million domestically for the weekend, with another $20 million expected from 63 overseas markets.
If that target holds, Ebenezer could deliver a roughly $40 million worldwide opening frame. For a darker Christmas-themed film without the support of an established blockbuster franchise, that would be a meaningful result and an encouraging sign for Paramount’s release strategy.
Internationally, the film is launching across major territories including:
- Australia
- Brazil
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Mexico
- Spain
- The United Kingdom
That wide overseas footprint gives the Ebenezer box office campaign an important cushion, especially as holiday-themed titles can sometimes perform unevenly in the domestic market.
Why This Release Matters for Paramount and Johnny Depp
There is more riding on the Ebenezer box office than a routine opening weekend. The movie is being viewed as one of the first major greenlights under Paramount’s new leadership structure following the Skydance merger, making it an important early test of the studio’s theatrical instincts.
It is also being framed as a comeback vehicle for Johnny Depp, particularly outside the safety net of a franchise brand. Paramount began building that narrative months ago, including a high-profile Comic-Con reveal that generated buzz and reminded audiences of Depp’s long-standing star power.
Several factors make this debut notable:
- Studio strategy: Paramount needs fresh wins from original or semi-original theatrical projects.
- Seasonal timing: Christmas movies remain attractive, but the market has shifted significantly in the post-pandemic era.
- Star-driven draw: Depp’s name still commands curiosity, especially in a stylized role like Scrooge.
- Genre crossover: The film appears to mix holiday atmosphere with eerie thriller elements, potentially broadening its audience.
In short, the Ebenezer box office launch is being watched as both a business test and a cultural temperature check.
How Ebenezer Compares to Similar Holiday Releases
One challenge in assessing the Ebenezer box office trajectory is the lack of direct post-Covid comparison titles. Studios have not released many Christmas-themed family movies with a spooky edge in recent years, which makes side-by-side tracking imperfect.
Still, a few rough comps offer context. Ebenezer opened below the $3.7 million in previews posted by Red One, the action-heavy holiday title starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans. It also came in under the $2.2 million preview figure earned by 2018’s animated The Grinch.
Those comparisons should be treated carefully, however, because the films target different audiences:
- Red One leaned heavily into large-scale action spectacle.
- The Grinch benefited from a familiar animated family brand.
- Ebenezer appears to occupy a more unusual middle ground with gothic holiday energy.
That distinction could ultimately work in its favor if word of mouth catches on with moviegoers looking for an alternative to standard festive programming.
Competition at the Weekend Box Office
The Ebenezer box office rollout is not happening in a vacuum. Sony’s Ghost Soldier, an action movie starring Jim Caviezel, also entered the market this week and has started building its own audience.
After opening on Wednesday, Ghost Soldier collected $2.3 million in previews and another $800,000 on Thursday, bringing its running total to $3.1 million. The film is playing in 2,558 theaters and appears to be connecting better with audiences than critics. It holds a strong Rotten Tomatoes audience score and solid PostTrak reactions, even as critic reviews have been mixed to negative.
That dynamic matters because audience enthusiasm can often drive late-weekend momentum, especially for action films in smaller or midsize release patterns. Even so, Ebenezer remains the title to watch if it can translate curiosity and seasonal branding into family turnout.
What Could Shape the Weekend Ahead
Several variables will determine whether the Ebenezer box office debut reaches studio expectations:
- Friday walk-up sales: Holiday-themed films can benefit from spontaneous family attendance.
- Audience reception: Strong exit scores could help the movie play beyond its opening frame.
- Tone and marketing clarity: The blend of creepy and festive needs to resonate with mainstream audiences.
- International traction: Overseas grosses may be crucial to reaching that projected $40 million global opening.
If Paramount gets the tone right and viewers embrace the film’s unconventional Christmas angle, the movie could become one of the more talked-about seasonal releases of the year.
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Conclusion
The early Ebenezer box office result of $1.5 million in previews does not make the film an instant blockbuster, but it does put Paramount in a competitive position heading into the weekend. With a projected $40 million worldwide opening, a wide international launch, and significant interest around Johnny Depp’s return, Ebenezer has the ingredients of a solid theatrical performer. The real test now is whether the Ebenezer box office momentum can carry through the weekend and turn intrigue into lasting holiday-season buzz.
