NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� has been no blockbuster in North American theaters. But in a lethargic fall moviegoing season, even a so-so performing superhero sequel can rule the box office for three straight weeks.
For the third weekend in a row, 鈥淰enom: The Last Dance鈥� was the No. 1 movie at the box office, collecting $16.2 million in ticket sales in U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. It fended off a pair of new challengers in and the feel-good holiday movie 鈥淭he Best Christmas Pageant Ever.鈥�
With the election on Tuesday, the major studios opted not to put any new releases into theaters. That allowed Sony Pictures鈥� 鈥淰enom: The Last Dance,鈥� the third entry in the Tom Hardy-led franchise, to hold its position.
While 鈥淭he Last Dance鈥� hasn鈥檛 been a huge hit domestically 鈥� in late October 鈥� it has thrived overseas, grossing almost triple what it has in North America. The 鈥淰enom鈥� sequel has grossed $279.4 million internationally, bringing its global total to $394.2 million.
鈥淗eretic鈥� and 鈥淭he Best Christmas Pageant Ever鈥� were neck and neck for second place. Counting only Friday-Sunday ticket sales, the edge went to 鈥淗eretic,鈥� which debuted with $11 million. 鈥淭he Best Christmas Pageant Ever,鈥� though, factored in $2.2 million in sneak-peak screenings from last weekend to claim a reported opening gross of $11.1 million.
A24鈥檚 鈥淗eretic,鈥� directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, follows two Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who knock on the door of a man (Grant) they鈥檒l regret trying to evangelize to. Though 鈥淗eretic鈥� has been for the darkest turn yet by Grant, audiences were less impressed, giving it a 鈥淐+鈥� CinemaScore. Regardless, with a budget under $10 million, 鈥淗eretic鈥� will easily turn a profit.
鈥淭he Best Christmas Pageant Ever,鈥� released by Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, which specializes in Christian entertainment, is about six siblings with a bad reputation who take over the local church pageant. The film, an adaptation of Barbara Robinson鈥檚 1972 children鈥檚 book directed by Dallas Jenkins, did well with audiences, who gave it a 鈥淎鈥� CinemaScore. It, too, was modestly budgeted at about $10 million.
In its seventh week of release, Universal and DreamWorks Animation鈥檚 continues to show little rust in theaters. It landed in fourth place with $6.6 million, bringing its domestic haul to $130.2 million and its worldwide gross to $292 million.
starring Mikey Madison as a Brooklyn sex worker, expanded into wide release. The Neon film, an expected best-picture contender, collected $2.4 million in 1,104 theaters. Its four-week total stands at $7.2 million.
starring Ralph Fiennes, continues to perform exceptionally well for an adult-oriented drama. The Focus Features release, in its third weekend of release, added 487 theaters and dipped a modest 19% to earn $4.1 million. It has collected $21.5 million. Similarly, A24鈥檚 starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, has stayed strong, grossing $2.2 million in its fifth weekend for a $21.8 million total.
Overall ticket sales, though, remain sluggish. Box office is running about 11% behind last year, according to Comscore. In the last two weeks, overall ticket sales are down about 50% from the pre-pandemic average, according to David A. Gross, a film consultant who publishes a newsletter for Franchise Entertainment.
The good news for theaters: The next few weeks are lined up for several big new releases, including the Amazon MGM Christmas comedy 鈥淩ed One鈥� (Nov. 15), Paramount Pictures鈥� (Nov. 22), Universal鈥檚 (also Nov. 22) and the Walt Disney Co.鈥檚 (Nov. 27).
鈥淏etter late than never is the rule of the day and we can expect some positive success stories coming out of the Thanksgiving corridor, which looks the be on par with some of the biggest such frames over the past many years,鈥� said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore.
Before opening in U.S. theaters, 鈥淩ed One,鈥� starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, kicked off in 75 overseas markets, collecting $26.6 million. The film carries a hefty price tag of about $250 million to make.
Final domestic figures will be released Monday. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore, are:
1. 鈥淰enom: The Last Dance,鈥� $16.2 million.
2. 鈥淗eretic,鈥� $11 million.
3. 鈥淭he Best Christmas Pageant Ever,鈥� $8.9 million.
4. 鈥淭he Wild Robot,鈥� $6.7 million.
5. 鈥淪mile 2,鈥� $5 million.
6. 鈥淐onclave,鈥� $4.1 million.
7. 鈥淎nora,鈥� $2.5 million.
8. 鈥淗ere,鈥� $2.4 million.
9. 鈥淲e Live in Time,鈥� $2.2 million.
10. 鈥淭errifier 3,鈥� $1.4 million.
Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
