“Scream VI” took in $44.5 million in its opening weekend, a frighteningly good start for Paramount and Spyglass Media’s feature-length thriller franchise.
Those grosses were enough to top the domestic box office with two new releases — Sony’s prehistoric sci-fi thriller “65” and Focus Features’ heartwarming comedy “Champions” and last weekend’s victor “Tenet III.”
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As the sixth installment in the franchise, Scream VI had a very strong initial box office. Not only is it a big step up from last year’s $30 million reboot “Scream,” but it also beats the previous record of $34 million set by 2000’s “Scream 3.” Also, Scream VI cost $35 million, so it could easily turn a profit in theaters.
“Critics and audience ratings are very good, and the international business should be solid,” said David A. Gross, principal of Franchise Entertainment Research, a film consultancy. “27 years after launching in 1996, this team is healthier than ever.”
Scream VI, Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Follows Ghostface Murder Survivors Leave Woodsboro for New York City The story begins again. (Good luck…) Courteney Cox, Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega and Hayden Panettiere return for first film without Neveu Sidney Prescott’s film played by Campbell.actor leave the movie Because she felt “the offer that was made to me didn’t equate to the value I brought to the franchise.”
The latest “Scream” continues to be solid hit the box officeit looks set to continue with “Shazam: Wrath of Gods” (March 17), “John Wick: Chapter 4” (March 24) and “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Rogues” ( March 31).
In second place, “Tenet III” took in $27.1 million from 4,007 North American theaters, down 53 percent from its $59 million opening weekend. The sports drama, directed and starring Michael B. Jordan, crossed the coveted $100 million mark just two weeks after its big-screen release. Based on current estimates, Tenet III is on track to gross about $150 million in North America, well ahead of the first film ($109 million) and second film ($115 million).
“65” came in third with $12.3 million from 3,405 theaters, a start that topped initial single-digit expectations but still tough for a film with a $45 million budget. Adam Driver stars in “65” as a pilot who crash-lands on a mysterious planet that happens to be Earth… 65 million years ago.
Negative reviews (it has a 36% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) and poor audience ratings (it has a weak “C+” in Cinemascore) probably won’t help the movie after its opening weekend. The Bron and TSG co-financed the film, which should help mitigate its potential loss in theatrical releases.
“It was a test screening of an original sci-fi action movie,” Gross said. He added, “These films have sold well overseas, and ’65’ has had a place abroad as well. […] But ’65’ is unlikely to be profitable after accounting for all associated costs. “
“Champion” finished sixth with a mediocre $5.1 million from 3,030 locations. Directed by Bobby Farrelly, “Champions” follows Woody Harrelson as a moody little league basketball coach who ends up coaching a team of mentally handicapped players to fulfill a community service requirement. Fortunately for the studio, ticket buyers — 56 percent female and 83 percent 25 or older — seemed to like the film (which earned an “A” in Cinemascore) more than critics (it 53% on Rotten Tomatoes).
“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantum Fever” and “Cocaine Bear” were among the top five domestic box office hits.
Marvel’s third superhero adventure focusing on the youngest Avengers added $7 million in its fourth weekend in 3,105 theaters. So far, “Quantum Fever” has grossed $198 million in North America, surpassing the original “Ant-Man” ($180 million) and trailing only its 2018 sequel “Ant-Man and the Wasp” ($216 million). .
But in terms of global box office, “Ant-Man 3” took $447.6 million at the box office, and it may become the lowest-grossing entry in the “Ant-Man” series, second only to the first film’s $519 million at the box office and the follow-up film’s $519 million. $622 million in bounties.
Universal Pictures’ horror-comedy “Cocaine Bear” finished fifth with $6.2 million in its third weekend from 3,204 theaters. The gory animal adventure from Elizabeth Banks, starring you guessed it, a cocaine-smoking bear, has grossed $51.6 million domestically and $65 million worldwide to date.
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