Avatar sequel Seventh-highest grossing of all time and still number one at the box office
Blumhouse’s evil-doll horror M3gan got off to a smashing start, debuting with box office estimates of $30.2 million, according to the studio’s estimates, while Avatar: The Way of Water continued its box-office domination at the top.
Universal Pictures’ “M3gan,” about a robotic companion built for a teenage girl after her parents died in a car accident, generated huge buzz and viral dancing memes for a better-than-expected debut. In the low-budget slasher starring Allison Williams, Blumhouse and producer James Wan create Hollywood’s first hit of the new year, which is likely to spawn a new high-concept horror franchise.
Audiences gave the PG-13 film a “B” CinemaScore – although reviews (94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) were stronger for the modern, technical take on a “child’s game”-like thriller. It added $10 million internationally.
But while M3gan drew audiences primarily in 2D showings, large format screens continued to be occupied by James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water. The three-hour, 3-D sequel remained #1 in US and Canadian theaters for the fourth straight week, grossing $45 million.
Cameron’s sci-fi extravaganza has now surpassed $500 million domestically and $1.7 billion worldwide. After dominating the otherwise lackluster vacation corridor, the “Avatar” sequel almost matches the pace of the original; The 2009 “Avatar” grossed $50.3 million in its fourth weekend. The Way of Water is already the seventh-highest-grossing film of all time, excluding inflation – a total largely due to its strong overseas performance. The film’s $1.2 billion in international ticket sales surpassed any film released since the pandemic began.
M3gan was the only new film in theaters, although Sony Pictures’ A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks ran in 637 theaters after opening in four theaters first. The film, a remake of Swedish film A Man Called Ove, grossed a solid $4.2 million ahead of its nationwide release on Friday.
Third place went to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish with $13.1 million in its third week of release. The animated sequel from Universal Pictures has grossed $87.7 million in three weeks, plus $109.7 million internationally.
While many award nominees have struggled at the box office in recent months, Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale is proving to be the modest exception. The A24 indie, starring Brendan Fraser, placed seventh in its fifth week of release with $1.5 million for a grand total of $8.6 million – a good return for a film estimated to have cost $3 million to make has cost.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday in US and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. The final domestic figures will be released on Monday.
1. “Avatar: The Way of Water,” $45 million.
2. “M3gan”, $30.2 million.
3. “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” $13.1 million.
4. “A Man Called Otto,” $4.2 million.
5. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, $4 million.
6. “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” $2.4 million.
7. “The Whale,” $1.5 million.
8. “Babylon,” $1.4 million.
9. “Violent Night,” $740,000.
10. “The Menu,” $713,000.
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