Thanks to the two movies, revenue for the first full weekend of 2023 will be up nearly 70 percent over the same frame in 2022.
'Avatar 2' tops the box office with $1.7 billion. 'M3GAN' Scares Up $30M Opening Globally
Whew.
The first full weekend of January is bringing relief to Hollywood and theater owners, thanks to Avatar: The Way of Water and new offering M3GAN, a sci-fi themed horror picture from Universal, Blumhouse, and James Wan's Atomic Monster.
The Way of Water, the lone movie to do well at the year's end box office, earned a whopping $45 million in its fourth weekend to surpass the $500 million mark at the domestic box office, a feat only two other films have accomplished since the pandemic began, Spider-Man: No Way Home and Top-Gun: Maverick. (Even before the COVID-19 crisis, only a few people achieved this milestone in any given year.)
The first full weekend of January is bringing relief to Hollywood and theater owners, thanks to Avatar: The Way of Water and new offering M3GAN, a sci-fi themed horror picture from Universal, Blumhouse, and James Wan's Atomic Monster.
The Way of Water, the lone movie to do well at the year's end box office, earned a whopping $45 million in its fourth weekend to surpass the $500 million mark at the domestic box office, a feat only two other films have accomplished since the pandemic began, Spider-Man: No Way Home and Top-Gun: Maverick. (Even before the COVID-19 crisis, only a few people achieved this milestone in any given year.)
Overseas, the Avatar sequel earned a huge $132.6 million over the weekend for an international total of $1.19 billion and global cume of $1.7 billion, including $526.8 million in domestic ticket sales.
Placing No. 2 was M3GAN, which scared up a stellar $30.2 million opening in North America, ahead of expectations and the top opening for a PG-13 horror film since A Quiet Place Part II in 2021. And it’s the best start for a horror film opening in January since Devil Inside in 2012. Overseas, the film launched to $14.8 million for an early global tally of $45 million.
Placing No. 2 was M3GAN, which scared up a stellar $30.2 million opening in North America, ahead of expectations and the top opening for a PG-13 horror film since A Quiet Place Part II in 2021. And it’s the best start for a horror film opening in January since Devil Inside in 2012. Overseas, the film launched to $14.8 million for an early global tally of $45 million.
The two films increased box office revenue by nearly 70% compared to the same weekend in 2022. (historically, the first frame of January is notably quiet).
M3GAN, directed by Gerard Johnstone, is about a robotic doll who becomes obsessed with a young girl. The film received high marks from critics and a B CinemaScore from audiences.
In other news, Universal and Illumination's Puss in Boots: The Last Wish debuted at No. 3 with an estimated $12.4 million for a domestic total of $87.7 million and a worldwide total of $197.4 million.
M3GAN, directed by Gerard Johnstone, is about a robotic doll who becomes obsessed with a young girl. The film received high marks from critics and a B CinemaScore from audiences.
In other news, Universal and Illumination's Puss in Boots: The Last Wish debuted at No. 3 with an estimated $12.4 million for a domestic total of $87.7 million and a worldwide total of $197.4 million.
Tom Hanks-starrer A Man Called Otto, placing fourth, is looking at a fourth-place finish after expanding into 637 theaters. The Sony film earned an estimated $4.2 million for a total $4.3 million and $12.7 million globally.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever rounded out the top five in its ninth weekend with an estimated $3.3 million, followed by TriStar’s Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody with $2.4 million for a domestic total of $19.7 million.
Specialty film The Whale continues to impress. The A24 release earned $1.5 million from 714 theaters to place No. 7 to boast the best hold of any film in the top 10 and finish Sunday with a domestic cume of $8.9 million.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever rounded out the top five in its ninth weekend with an estimated $3.3 million, followed by TriStar’s Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody with $2.4 million for a domestic total of $19.7 million.
Specialty film The Whale continues to impress. The A24 release earned $1.5 million from 714 theaters to place No. 7 to boast the best hold of any film in the top 10 and finish Sunday with a domestic cume of $8.9 million.
Babylon continued to struggle for Paramount, earning an estimated $1.4 million for a domestic total of $13.5 million.
Jan. 8, 8 a.m. Revised figures have been added.
This story was first published on January 7 at 10 a.m.
Jan. 8, 8 a.m. Revised figures have been added.
This story was first published on January 7 at 10 a.m.
Tags:
Movie Updates
