In a year marked by underperforming releases and anxiously watched box office returns, Hollywood's latest weekend numbers highlight a pressing concern for the industry's health and future.
- Apr 22, 2024
AceShowbiz - Alex Garland's dystopian thriller "Civil War" remains the top film in theaters in its second week of release, according to studio estimates Sunday, April 21. The A24-produced film, which cost a record $50 million for the indie studio, grossed $11.1 million in ticket sales at 3,929 theaters over the weekend.
Over two weeks, "Civil War" has accumulated a total of $44.9 million. Its provocative premise, along with A24's marketing campaign featuring images of war-ravaged American cities, has kept "Civil War" on the minds of moviegoers.
However, the weekend was slow overall, contributing to concerns about a down year for Hollywood at the box office. Year-to-date ticket sales are down nearly 20% compared to the same period last year, according to Comscore.
Universal Pictures' "Abigail", a critically acclaimed horror film about Dracula's daughter, was expected to lead ticket sales but came in second with $10.2 million at 3,384 theaters. Guy Ritchie's "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare" also struggled to make a mark, debuting with $9 million at 2,845 theaters.
Despite the tepid response to these new releases, horror films continue to struggle to generate consistent business at the box office. According to David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research, horror releases accounted for $2 billion in worldwide sales in 2023.
The mightiest film globally remains "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire", which has led worldwide ticket sales for the past month. The Warner Bros. monster movie added $9.5 million domestically and $21.6 million internationally, bringing its four-week global total to $485.2 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
Top 10 of North American Box Office (Apr. 19-21, 2024):
- "Civil War" - $11.1 million
- "Abigail" - $10.2 million
- "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" - $9.5 million
- "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare" - $9 million
- "Spy x Family Code: White" - $4.9 million
- "Kung Fu Panda 4" - $4.6 million
- "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" - $4.4 million
- "Dune: Part Two" - $2.9 million
- "Monkey Man" - $2.2 million
- "The First Omen" - $1.7 million
