Los Angeles, California – “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” dominated the US box office over the weekend, surpassing expectations with a debut of $45.2 million across 4,345 theaters. While initial projections estimated a lower opening weekend, the film saw a boost in ticket sales on Sunday, pushing its total gross higher than anticipated. Internationally, the movie brought in $16.4 million from 25 markets, resulting in a global opening of $61 million.
Compared to its 2021 predecessor, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” which debuted at $44 million during the pandemic recovery, the performance of “Frozen Empire” indicates a steady but limited appeal to the franchise’s core fans. With a production budget of $100 million, the film faces the challenge of recouping costs and outperforming its predecessor’s global earnings of $204 million against a $75 million budget.
Critics and audiences had mixed reactions to the sequel, giving it a 43% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a “B+” CinemaScore. “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” continues the story from “Afterlife,” bringing together new and veteran cast members to battle against a looming apocalypse. Despite the mixed reviews, the film sets the stage for a potential showdown with upcoming releases such as “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”
In a weekend filled with new releases, Sydney Sweeney’s religious horror film “Immaculate” also made its debut, securing the fourth spot with $5.3 million from 2,354 theaters. The movie, backed by Neon, follows a nun who uncovers dark secrets in a secluded convent, garnering varied reviews and a “C+” CinemaScore from audiences.
Additionally, “Dune: Part Two” maintained its position at No. 2 with $17.6 million in ticket sales, showcasing a strong hold in the box office. Meanwhile, “Kung Fu Panda 4” slipped to third place after two weeks at the top, with $16.8 million in earnings. Mark Wahlberg’s “Arthur the King” rounded out the top five with $4.4 million, showing modest returns for its $19 million production budget.
On the indie film circuit, “Late Night With the Devil” claimed the sixth spot, bringing in $2.8 million from 1,034 venues and setting a new opening record for distributor IFC Films. The thriller, starring David Dastmalchian, explores the chilling tale of a talk show host caught in a live Satanic event.
As the box office landscape continues to evolve, the performance of these latest releases offers insights into audience preferences and the industry’s resilience amidst changing viewing habits.