Jim Carrey reached movie star status in 1994, thanks to pulling off the rare feat of having three different films land in the number one box office spot — and all within the same year. Ace Ventura, The Mask, and Dumb & Dumber were major hits that managed to cement Carrey’s standing as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. It’s also a feat that hasn’t been matched in over thirty years…until recently. Mason Thames has managed to star in three different films that all reached the #1 spot at the box office during their opening weekend, matching Carrey’s record.
Thames’s first #1 hit was Universal’s live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon, which quickly became the highest-grossing entry in the beloved DreamWorks franchise. Next up: Black Phone 2, a sequel to Scott Derrickson‘s horror hit featuring Thames reprising his role as Finney Blake. Finally, Thames took a significant role in Regretting You, which draws its story from Colleen Hoover‘s novel of the same name. Examining Thames’ recent streak of films reveals a key element that other actors and Hollywood can learn from.
There’s One Key Difference Between Mason Thames & Jim Carrey’s Box Office Records
Mason Thames and McKenna Grace holding a highway sign in ‘Regretting You’.Image via Paramount Pictures
Other than Jim Carrey’s presence, the key thing that ties together The Mask, Dumb & Dumber, and Ace Ventura is the fact that they’re comedies. Specifically, they’re comedies that take full advantage of Carrey’s unique physicality, featuring him stretching and jumping around like a human cartoon (quite literally, in The Mask‘s case). That same energy’s permeates the rest of Carrey’s roles, whether he’s starring in a more dramatic film like The Truman Show or stealing the show as Doctor Robotnik in the Sonic the Hedgehog films. It makes him both a distinct actor and a specific kind of box office draw, which is a rarity in this day and age.
In contrast, Thames’ big films differ wildly in genre and tone. How To Train Your Dragon is a fantasy with plenty of heart, especially when it comes to the bond between Hiccup and Toothless. Black Phone 2 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, slowly ratcheting up the chills as Finney’s tormented by the specter of the Grabber (Ethan Hawke) who abducted him when he was a kid. Regretting You focuses mainly on the romance between the Thames’ Miller and McKenna Grace‘s Clara, which is laced with tension for multiple reasons. Thames offers a different performance for each film, as he’s shy and withdrawn to match Hiccup in How To Train Your Dragon while also possessing a weary sort of determination in Black Phone 2. As for Regretting You, the reason why Thames and Grace’s scenes are one of the few good parts of the film is that they have a natural chemistry that immediately draws the audience’s attention.
Hollywood Can Learn a Vital Lesson From Mason Thames’ Box Office Success
2025 is proving to be a rough year at the box office for multiple studios. For every hit like Sinners or A Minecraft Movie, there’s an outright bomb like Tron: Ares or The Smashing Machine. Mason Thames’ current success hints that the way forward is for studios to diversify their product; rather than betting the farm on a franchise or trying to build a franchise around a potential star, studios should spread out their film slate across various genres. A great example of this is Warner Bros. Pictures; film chiefs Michael DeLuca and Pam Abdy have given the legendary studio a string of box office hits. Other actors could learn from Thames’ example and spread out their work to gain more exposure.
Thames, for the most part, is star-struck by his own success. “It’s been the craziest year of my life. I’ve been trying my best to soak it all in. I’m so fortunate. I can barely wrap my head around it,” he told D Magazine. Time will tell if Thames becomes a star on Jim Carrey’s level, but he’s off to a great start.
Regretting You Official Poster
Release Date
October 24, 2025
Director
Josh Boone
Writers
Susan McMartin, Josh Boone, Colleen Hoover
Producers
Brunson Green, Robert Kulzer
