The Blumhouse evil-doll horror film M3gan got off to a killer start, debuting with $30.2 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates, while Avatar: The Way of Water continued its box-office reign in the top spot.
Universal Pictures M3gan, about a robot companion built for a young girl after her parents are killed in a car accident, rode strong buzz and viral dancing memes to an above-expectations debut. In the low-budget slasher, starring Allison Williams, Blumhouse and producer James Wan crafted Hollywoods first hit of the new year, likely spawning a new high-concept horror franchise.
Audiences gave the PG-13 film a B CinemaScore though reviews (94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) were stronger for the modern, techy twist on a Childs Play-like thriller. It added $10 million internationally.
But while M3gan drew audiences largely in 2D showings, large-format screens continued to be soaked up by James Camerons Avatar: The Way of Water. The 3-D three-hour sequel remained No. 1 for the fourth straight week in U.S. and Canadian theaters with $45 million in sales.
Camerons sci-fi spectacle has now surpassed $500 million domestically and $1.7 billion globally. After dominating the otherwise lackluster holiday corridor, the Avatar sequel is nearly matching the originals pace; the 2009 Avatar scored $50.3 million in its fourth weekend. The Way of Water already ranks as the seventh highest grossing film ever, not accounting for inflation a total particularly owed to its strong overseas performance. The films $1.2 billion in international ticket sales exceeds that of any film released since the start of the pandemic.
M3gan was the only new film in wide release, though Sony Pictures A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks, played in 637 theaters after first launching in four theaters. The film, a remake of the Swedish film A Man Called Ove, managed a solid $4.2 million ahead of its nationwide release on Friday.
Third place went to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, with $13.1 million in its third week of release. The animated Universal Pictures sequel has tallied $87.7 million in three weeks, plus $109.7 million internationally.
While many awards contenders have struggled in recent months at the box office, Darren Aronofskys The Whale is proving a modest exception. The A24 indie starring Brendan Fraser ranked seventh in its fifth week of release with $1.5 million and a cumulative total of $8.6 million a good return for a film that cost an estimated $3 million to make.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. Avatar: The Way of Water, $45 million.
2. M3gan, $30.2 million.
3. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, $13.1 million.
4. A Man Called Otto, $4.2 million.
5. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, $4 million.
6. Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody, $2.4 million.
7. The Whale, $1.5 million.
8. Babylon, $1.4 million.
9. Violent Night, $740,000.
10. The Menu, $713,000.
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