“Scream VI” collected $44.5 million in its opening weekend, a scary-good start for Paramount and Spyglass Media’s long-running slasher series.
Those ticket sales were enough to top domestic box office charts on last weekend’s winner “Creed III,” along with two newcomers, Sony’s prehistoric sci-fi thriller “65” and Focus’ savage comedy “Champions.”
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The early rush for “Scream VI” is frighteningly strong for a sixth installment in a franchise. Not only did it vastly improve upon the debut of last year’s hit reboot “Scream,” which scored with $30 million, but it also surpassed the opening weekend of all time previously established by 2000’s “Scream 3” with $34 million. Broke the record. And, “Scream VI” cost $35 million, so it could easily turn a profit during its theatrical run.
The R-rated “Scream VI” added $22.6 million from 53 international markets, bringing its global tally to $67.1 million.
David A. “Reviews and audience scores are great, and international business should be solid,” says Gross. “27 years after its launch in 1996, the franchise is healthier than ever.”
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, “Scream VI” follows the survivors of Ghostface’s murders as they leave Woodsboro behind for a fresh start in New York City. (Good luck with that…) Courteney Cox, Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, and Hayden Panettiere return for the film, which is the first installment without Neve Campbell’s Sydney Prescott. actor left the movie because he felt “the offer that was presented to me was not commensurate with the value that I have brought to the franchise.” Opening weekend audience members were slightly skewed male (51%), with 71% being between the ages of 18–24.
Latest “Scream” Continues a Solid March at the box officeWhich is set to continue with “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” (March 17), “John Wick: Chapter 4” (March 24) and “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” (March 31).
In second place, “Creed III” made $27.1 million from 4,007 North American theaters, down 53% from the previous weekend’s $59 million debut. After only two weeks on the big screen, Michael B. The sports drama directed by and starring Jordan has crossed the coveted $100 million mark. Based on current projections, ‘Creed III’ looks to end its theatrical run with around $150 million in North America, well ahead of the first film ($109 million) and the second ($115 million). .
“65” landed at No. 3 with $12.3 million from 3,405 theaters, a start well above early single-digit expectations, but still rocky 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% on Rotten Tomatoes) and poor audience scores (it carries a weak “C+” Cinemascore) may not help the case for word-of-mouth beyond opening weekend. Bron and TSG co-financed the film, which would help mitigate potential losses during its theatrical run.
“It’s a soft opening for an original sci-fi action movie,” says Gross. He says, “These films do well overseas and ’65’ could be a big hit overseas. […] But ’65’ is unlikely to be profitable after accounting for all associated costs.
“Champions” debuted at number six with an average of $5.1 million from 3,030 locations. Directed by Bobby Farrelly, “Champions” follows Woody Harrelson as a minor-league basketball coach who guides a team of players with intellectual disabilities to fulfill a community service requirement. Lucky for the studio, ticket buyers—56% were women and 83% were 25 or older—liked the film (which scored an “A” Cinemascore) more than critics (it has a 53% on Rotten Tomatoes).
“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantummania” and “Cocaine Bears” rounded out the top five on the domestic box office chart.
Marvel’s third superhero adventure to spotlight the youngest Avenger has added $7 million from 3,105 theaters in its fourth weekend of release. So far, “Quantumania” has earned $198 million in North America, surpassing the original “Ant-Man” ($180 million) and the 2018 sequel “Ant-Man and the Wasp” ($216 million). Have given.
But at the global box office, “Ant-Man 3” has grossed $447.6 million and may end its run as the lowest-grossing “Ant-Man” installment, behind the first film’s $519 million and the follow-up’s $519 million. Leaving behind a $622 million bounty.
Universal’s horror-comedy “Cocaine Bears” took fifth place with $6.2 million from 3,204 locations in its third weekend in theaters. The blood-spattered animal adventure, directed by Elizabeth Banks and starring a bear high on (you guessed it) cocaine, has grossed a solid $51.6 million domestically and $65 million worldwide to date.
more to come…
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