Ghost extermination is still good business.
“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” raked in $45.2 million in ticket sales last weekend, making it Sony Pictures' first No. 1 film since last summer, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The Frozen Empire's weekend box office performance, which opened in 4,345 theaters, was about the same as Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which opened in 2021 with $44 million. Afterlife rebooted the series with a sequel built around the descendants (Carrie Coon, Finn) Wolfhard, McKenna Grace), Harold Ramis' Egon Spengler, and Paul Rudd's seismologist Gary.・Gluverson.
Neither film was a hit with critics, but was more receptive to audiences. “Frozen” earned her a B+ CinemaScore from Moviegoer, which is one score lower than his A- score for “Afterlife.” While “Frozen Empire'' is not guaranteed to be profitable, it can expect continued business through spring break.
“Ghostbusters” movies tend to have less influence internationally. In 25 overseas markets, “Frozen Empire” added his $16.4 million.
The latest film, Ghostbusters, cost approximately $100 million to make. The Frozen Empire will be directed by Afterlife co-writer Gil Keenan, after Jason Reitman takes over the directorial reins of Ghostbusters: Afterlife from his father Ivan Reitman.
These two sequels, despite the PG-13 rating, were a more family-friendly take on Ghostbusters, with original cast members Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Bill Murray returning in supporting roles. After 2016's Ghostbusters, which featured a female lead, received backlash, Sony rebooted the series.
Another new wide release over the weekend was the horror film “Immaculate,” starring Sidney Sweeney as an American nun in a remote convent in Italy. The film was released by Neon after its premiere at SXSW and premiered with $5.4 million on 2,354 screens. Sweeney's rising star power made “Anyone But You” one of her most successful romantic girlfriend comedies in years. But “Immaculate,” an independent film that cost less than $10 million to make, hasn't had the same success.
“While the film stars the popular Sidney Sweeney, horror films are not cast-driven,” wrote David A. Gross of consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. “They're driven by hooks like evil dolls, evil smiles, invisible or silent beings, found footage, and possessed children. That's what scares horror fans. Here So the hook isn’t entirely clear.”
In second place is Dune: Part 2, which continues to do well. The sci-fi sequel, directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Timothée Chalamet, added $17.6 million in its fourth weekend, bringing the Warner Bros. film's domestic total to $233.4 million. Overseas sales have been strong as well, taking his worldwide sales to $574.4 million.
Universal's “Kung Fu Panda 4'' topped the box office for two weeks, but slipped to third place in its third weekend with $16.8 million. The successful DreamWorks animated sequel grossed up to $133.2 million domestically. It opened with $25.7 million in China, where movies have historically been popular. When “Kung Fu Panda” was released in 2008, its success was in part an impetus for China to expand its own film production.
Estimated ticket sales are for Friday through Sunday in theaters in the U.S. and Canada, according to ComScore. Final national figures will be released on Monday.
1. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, $45.2 million.
2. Dune: Part 2, $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 with the Devil,” $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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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP