Ghost busting continues to be an excellent enterprise.
“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” collected $45.2 million in ticket gross sales over the weekend, in line with studio estimates Sunday, handing Sony Footage the studio’s first No. 1 movie since final summer season.
The opening weekend for “Frozen Empire,” in 4,345 theaters, was almost precisely the identical because the $44 million launch for “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” in 2021. “Afterlife” rebooted the franchise with a sequel constructed across the descendants (Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace) of Harold Ramis’ Egon Spengler, together with Paul Rudd’s seismologist Gary Grooberson.
Neither movie has been a success with critics, however audiences have been extra receptive. “Frozen Empire” garnered a B+ CinemaScore from moviegoers, a tick down from the A- rating for “Afterlife.” “Frozen Empire” isn’t assured of profitability, however it would hope for sustained enterprise over spring break.
“Ghostbusters” movies are likely to make a low affect internationally. In 25 abroad markets, “Frozen Empire” added $16.4 million.
The most recent “Ghostbusters” price about $100 million to make. After Jason Reitman took over directing duties from his father, Ivan Reitman, to helm “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “Frozen Empire” is directed by Gil Kenan, co-writer of “Afterlife.”
These two sequels took “Ghostbusters” in a extra family-oriented, albeit PG-13 rated, route, with unique solid members Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Invoice Murray returning in supporting roles. After the 2016 female-led “Ghostbusters” prompted a backlash, Sony rebooted the franchise.
The weekend’s different new huge launch was “Immaculate,” the horror movie starring Sydney Sweeney as an American nun at a distant Italian convent. The movie, launched by Neon following a premiere at SXSW, debuted with $5.4 million on 2,354 screens. Sweeney’s ascending star energy helped make “Anybody However You” one of the vital profitable rom-coms in years. However “Immaculate,” an unbiased manufacturing that price lower than $10 million make, isn’t getting the identical bounce.
“The film options the favored Sydney Sweeney, however horror films aren’t cast-driven,” wrote David A. Gross for the consulting agency Franchise Leisure Analysis. “They’re pushed by the hook: the evil doll, the depraved smile, the invisible or silent presence, the discovered footage, the possessed baby. That’s what terrifies the horror crowd. The hook isn’t utterly clear right here.”
The No. 2 spot went to “Dune: Half Two,” which continues to carry properly. The Denis Villeneuve-directed sci-fi sequel starring Timothée Chalamet added $17.6 million in its fourth weekend of launch, bringing the Warner Bros. launch’s home complete to $233.4 million. Abroad gross sales are simply as sturdy, including as much as a $574.4 million worldwide haul.
After two weeks atop the field workplace, Common’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” slid to 3rd place with $16.8 million over its third weekend. The well-performing DreamWorks animated sequel is as much as $133.2 million home. It debuted with $25.7 million in China, the place the films have traditionally been well-liked. When the 2008 “Kung Fu Panda” was launched, its success partly impressed China to broaden its personal movie manufacturing.
Estimated ticket gross sales are for Friday by Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, in line with Comscore. Remaining home figures will probably be launched Monday.
1. “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” $45.2 million.
2. “Dune: Half Two,” $17.6 million.
3. “Kung Fu Panda 4,” $16.8 million.
4. “Immaculate,” $5.4 million.
5. “Arthur the King,” $4.4 million.
6. “Late Night time With the Satan,” $2.8 million.
7. “Imaginary,” $2.8 million.
8. “Love Lies Bleeding,” $1.6 million.
9. “Cabrini,” $1.4 million.
10. “Bob Marley: One Love,” $1.1 million.
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Observe AP Movie Author Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
Jake Coyle, The Related Press
