A whirlwind of cinematic magic continues as “Barbenheimer” regains its triumphant reign at the box office, marking its dominance for the third time in four weeks since its debut on July 21st.
Just when it seemed like Meg 2: The Trench might steal the spotlight with a nail-biting edge, outshining Oppenheimer by a mere $900k from a robust $30 million total gross, the tables swiftly turned. By the time Monday rolled around, Oppenheimer reasserted its second-place standing, solidifying its grip and refusing to let go.
This cinematic masterpiece, brilliantly directed by Christopher Nolan, has now etched its name in history as the highest-grossing WWII film, a testament to its compelling storytelling and powerful performances.
The combined force of “Barbenheimer” continues to astound, amassing a staggering $790.6M over the course of 24 days, representing an awe-inspiring 68% of all movie ticket sales in the United States and Canada during this remarkable period.
Barbie has added another splendid feather to her pink cap, amassing an impressive $33.7 million at the box office over the past weekend and once again claiming the #1 spot. With a mere 36% drop since the previous weekend, her domestic journey has now accumulated a jaw-dropping $526.3 million, and on the global stage, she shines even brighter with a majestic $1.1 BILLION! Notably, Barbie’s unwavering charm has positioned her as the unchallenged champion of the silver screen, reigning supreme each and every day since her grand debut.
This remarkable streak is the third longest of the year, trailing behind the extraordinary six-week run of Avatar: The Way of Water earlier in the year and the five-week command of the crown by The Super Mario Bros. Movie over the months of April and May.
Barbie has etched its name in the archives of cinematic history with a string of impressive achievements in 2023. Securing its place as the second highest-grossing movie both domestically and worldwide for the year, Barbie has solidified its status as a powerhouse in the entertainment realm.
Notably, it proudly stands as the second highest-grossing film ever under the Warner Bros. banner, and further cements its position as the 18th highest-grossing movie of all time within the domestic market. Its global impact shines bright as well, ranking as the 33rd highest-grossing movie of all time on the worldwide stage.
Oppenheimer continues to make waves at the box office, securing the #2 spot with an additional $18.8 million in earnings over the weekend. The film’s drop of 35% from the previous weekend is a testament to its staying power, and it has now amassed a solid domestic total of $264.3 million in just 24 days.
Overcoming initial doubts about its R-rating and weighty subject matter, Oppenheimer’s success story stands out. Interestingly, while it hasn’t claimed the top spot, it recently outperformed the long-standing record held by My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which earned $241.4 million back in 2002. The movie proudly holds the title of the 9th highest-grossing R-rated film and shows promising signs of hitting the $300 million milestone by Labor Day.
Shifting gears, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem climbed a rung on the box office ladder, securing a respectable #3 spot on the top ten list with a solid $15.8 million haul. Impressively, the film maintained its momentum after experiencing a 44% drop from the previous week.
Its ability to leapfrog over Meg 2 and fend off competition from The Last Voyage of the Demeter, the sole new wide release, speaks to its resilience. With a 12-day cumulative of $72.8 million, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles seems poised to continue drawing family audiences.
Meg 2: The Trench faced a more challenging tide, experiencing a substantial 58% drop from its opening weekend, resulting in a $12.7 million weekend at the box office and taking the #4 spot at the box office. Despite a strong initial #2 showing, the film’s critical reception might be influencing its trajectory, dampening its box office prospects. However, the international arena could offer some reprieve, particularly in China, where Meg 2 made a splash with an impressive $53 million opening, in stark contrast to Barbie’s $8 million debut three weeks prior.
Reflecting on the legacy of the original film, 2018’s The Meg, which earned a substantial 72% of its $530.5 million from international markets, particularly China, the creators at Warner Bros. maintained their international appeal.
Featuring global action star Wu Jing alongside Jason Statham and returning to the captivating setting of the South China Sea, Meg 2‘s foreign earnings are expected to hold steady. Nevertheless, uncertainties persist regarding the viability of a third Meg installment, given the waning interest in North American markets.
In terms of new releases, Universal’s The Last Voyage of the Demeter took to the cinematic waters, but its voyage was less triumphant, securing the #5 spot at the box office with a modest $6.5 million. Based on a chapter from Bram Stoker‘s Dracula, titled The Captain’s Log, the film’s two-decade journey to the screen finally reached its destination.
The narrative chronicles the ill-fated merchant ship, The Demeter, on its perilous journey, haunted by the presence of Dracula. Despite the tantalizing premise, the film struggled to capture audience attention, marked by a lackluster 51% critics score and a tepid 72% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Disney’s Haunted Mansion and Angel’s Sound of Freedom each slipped down the list by one spot each. Haunted Mansion took the #6 spot at the box office earning $5.6 million in its third week in theaters while The Sound of Freedom is clearly slowing down with their “pay it forward” ticket-selling platform, showing a 36% drop in sales which allowed the movie slide down to the #7 spot at the box office.
The Australian horror film A24’s Talk to Me continues to surprise by only dropping 19% in its third week, a performance that defies genre norms. The movie added $5.1 million to its total, crossing the $31 million mark and earned the #8 spot at the box office.
Paramount’s Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, while not meeting initial expectations, experienced a modest 29% drop and ended up taking the #9 spot on the top ten list. The film is on a trajectory to fall below $200 million domestically and $600 million worldwide, a bit shy of what was initially anticipated.
Joining the box office Top 10 list is the Indian film Jailer, a Tamil-region revenge thriller. Despite a limited release in 450 theaters, it managed to secure the #10 spot with over $2.5 million, totaling $4.1 million in just five days.
REELated:
The Top 10
1. Barbie (Warner Bros. Discovery) Week 4; Last weekend #1
$33,700,000 (-36%) in 4,178 (no change) theaters; PTA (per theater average): $8,066; Cumulative: $526,309,000
2. Oppenheimer (Universal) Week 4; Last weekend #3
$18,800,000 (-35%) in 3,761 (+149) theaters; PTA: $4,999; Cumulative: $264,269,000
3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount) Week 2; Last weekend #4
$15,750,000 (-44%) in 3,950 (+92) theaters; PTA: $3,987; Cumulative: $72,790,000
4. Meg 2: The Trench (Warner Bros.) Week 2; Last weekend #2
$12,700,000 (-58%) in 3,604 (+101) theaters; PTA: $3,524; Cumulative: $54,137,000
5. The Last Voyage of the Demeter (Universal) NEW – Cinemascore: B-; Metacritic: 52; Est. budget: $45 million
$6,500,000 in theaters; PTA: $2,394; Cumulative: $6,500,000
6. Haunted Mansion (Disney) Week 3; Last weekend #5
$5,614,000 (-%) in 2,860 (-880) theaters; PTA: $1,963; Cumulative: $52,871,000
7. Sound of Freedom (Angel) Week 6; Last weekend #6
$4,832,000 (-36%) in 2,803 (-198) theaters); PTA: $1,724; Cumulative: $172,814,000
8. Talk to Me (A24) Week 3; Last weekend #8
$5,116,000 (-19%) in 2,379 (+9) theaters; PTA: $2,151; Cumulative: $31,321,000
9. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning: Part One (Paramount) Week 5; Last weekend #7
$4,555,000 (-29%) in 2,135 (-287) theaters; PTA: $2,185; Cumulative: $159,556,000
10. Jailer (Indin) NEW – Est. budget: $24 million
$2,578,000 in 450 theaters; PTA: $5,730; Cumulative: $4,131,000
The box office witnessed a substantial surge this weekend, with all the movies gracing the theaters collectively amassing a remarkable $116.6 million in domestic earnings. This impressive figure stands in stark contrast to the same week last year, when the total revenue amounted to a comparatively modest $67.9M.
During that period, it was Bullet Train that took the lead, pulling in $13.3 million during its second weekend in theaters. The contrast in numbers showcases the robust rebound the industry has experienced since pre-pandemic times.
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