Box Office: Marvel’s Black Widow takes #1 spot

Widow
(Black Widow takes #1 spot with $80m)

The first theatrical Marvel release in more than two years, Disney’s Black Widow had the biggest domestic opening numbers since the start of the pandemic by grossing $80 million at the domestic box office during its opening weekend. 

Directed by Cate Shortland, Black Widow stars Scarlett Johansson in the titular role. The action-thriller follows Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow as she revisits her past. Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz and David Harbour also star.

The female-led superhero comic book movie, Black Widow, nabbed the biggest North American start since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and the largest since Disney/Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in Dec. 2019.

Overseas, Black Widow earned $78.8 million from 46 territories for a worldwide theatrical debut of $158.8 million.

Additionally, Black Widow made at least $60 million from Disney+ Premier Access where each household has to pay $30 to watch the film, for a global start which totals $218.8 million, according to Disney. This is the first time the company has shared information about movie sales earned from its streaming service.


REELated: Black Widow: Kicks ass in Box Office debut with $13.2m


Nine of the remaining top ten movies are sequels or franchise-related and saw a wide range of holds. Cruella at #6 stood out, off only 8 percent even as it’s widely available on PVOD. A Quiet Place Part II dropped 27 percent, passing $150 million; however, it’s expected to be available on Paramount Plus later this week.

Everything else dropped 40 percent or more. F9 in its third weekend dropped 53 percent to reach $141 million. It was the only other title to gross over $10 million. Universal’s two second-week films The Boss Baby: Family Business” (-46 percent, also on Peacock) and The Forever Purge (-47 percent) moved to third and fourth places.

Zola, the other second-week title, is as of now #10, down 48 percent. Its position could be challenged by The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, which reported a gross only $5,000 lower. A24’s Zola is only available in theaters and has taken in over $3 million so far.

The Top 10

1. Black Widow (Disney) NEW – Cinemascore: A-; Metacritic: 68; Est. budget: $200 million; also on Premium VOD via Disney+

$80,000,000 in 4,160 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $19,231; Cumulative: $80,000,000

2. F9 (Universal) Week 3; Last weekend #1

$10,800,000 (-53%) in 3,649 theaters (-554); PTA: $2,960; Cumulative: $141,300,000

3. The Boss Baby: Family Business (Universal) Week 2; Last weekend #2; also on Peacock TV

$8,700,000 (-46%) in 3,688 theaters (+44); PTA: $2,359; Cumulative: $34,700,000

4. The Forever Purge (Universal) Week 2; Last weekend #3

$6,700,000 (-47%) in 3,058 theaters (+7); PTA: $2,191; Cumulative: $27,400,000

5. A Quiet Place Part II (Paramount) Week 7; Last weekend #4

$3,000,000 (-27%) in 2,359 theaters (-467); PTA: $1,272; Cumulative: $150,694,000

6. Cruella (Disney) Week 7; Last weekend #6; on also Premium VOD

$2,200,000 (-8%) in 1,875 theaters (-505); PTA: $1,173; Cumulative: $80,800,000

7. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (Lionsgate) Week 4; Last weekend #5

$1,605,000 (-47%) in 1,904 theaters (-1,357); PTA: $843; Cumulative: $35,015,000

8. Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (Sony) Week 5; Last weekend #7

$1,250,000 (-43%) in 1,958 theaters (-995); PTA: $638; Cumulative: $37,700,000

9. In the Heights (Warner Bros.) Week 5; Last weekend #10; also on HBO Max (through Sunday)

$630,000 (-47%) in 788 theaters (-617); PTA: $800; Cumulative: $28,318,000

10. Zola (A24) Week 2; Last weekend #9

$620,000 (-48%) in 1,401 theaters (-67); PTA: $443; Cumulative: $3,532,000

Even with these impressive numbers, theatrical revenue probably won’t return to 2019 levels until 2024, according to a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers, per Deadline.

Widow
(Black Widow takes #1 spot with $80m)

The first theatrical Marvel release in more than two years, Disney’s Black Widow had the biggest domestic opening numbers since the start of the pandemic by grossing $80 million at the domestic box office during its opening weekend. 

Directed by Cate Shortland, Black Widow stars Scarlett Johansson in the titular role. The action-thriller follows Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow as she revisits her past. Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz and David Harbour also star.

The female-led superhero comic book movie, Black Widow, nabbed the biggest North American start since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and the largest since Disney/Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in Dec. 2019.

Overseas, Black Widow earned $78.8 million from 46 territories for a worldwide theatrical debut of $158.8 million.

Additionally, Black Widow made at least $60 million from Disney+ Premier Access where each household has to pay $30 to watch the film, for a global start which totals $218.8 million, according to Disney. This is the first time the company has shared information about movie sales earned from its streaming service.


REELated: Black Widow: Kicks ass in Box Office debut with $13.2m


Nine of the remaining top ten movies are sequels or franchise-related and saw a wide range of holds. Cruella at #6 stood out, off only 8 percent even as it’s widely available on PVOD. A Quiet Place Part II dropped 27 percent, passing $150 million; however, it’s expected to be available on Paramount Plus later this week.

Everything else dropped 40 percent or more. F9 in its third weekend dropped 53 percent to reach $141 million. It was the only other title to gross over $10 million. Universal’s two second-week films The Boss Baby: Family Business” (-46 percent, also on Peacock) and The Forever Purge (-47 percent) moved to third and fourth places.

Zola, the other second-week title, is as of now #10, down 48 percent. Its position could be challenged by The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, which reported a gross only $5,000 lower. A24’s Zola is only available in theaters and has taken in over $3 million so far.

The Top 10

1. Black Widow (Disney) NEW – Cinemascore: A-; Metacritic: 68; Est. budget: $200 million; also on Premium VOD via Disney+

$80,000,000 in 4,160 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $19,231; Cumulative: $80,000,000

2. F9 (Universal) Week 3; Last weekend #1

$10,800,000 (-53%) in 3,649 theaters (-554); PTA: $2,960; Cumulative: $141,300,000

3. The Boss Baby: Family Business (Universal) Week 2; Last weekend #2; also on Peacock TV

$8,700,000 (-46%) in 3,688 theaters (+44); PTA: $2,359; Cumulative: $34,700,000

4. The Forever Purge (Universal) Week 2; Last weekend #3

$6,700,000 (-47%) in 3,058 theaters (+7); PTA: $2,191; Cumulative: $27,400,000

5. A Quiet Place Part II (Paramount) Week 7; Last weekend #4

$3,000,000 (-27%) in 2,359 theaters (-467); PTA: $1,272; Cumulative: $150,694,000

6. Cruella (Disney) Week 7; Last weekend #6; on also Premium VOD

$2,200,000 (-8%) in 1,875 theaters (-505); PTA: $1,173; Cumulative: $80,800,000

7. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (Lionsgate) Week 4; Last weekend #5

$1,605,000 (-47%) in 1,904 theaters (-1,357); PTA: $843; Cumulative: $35,015,000

8. Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (Sony) Week 5; Last weekend #7

$1,250,000 (-43%) in 1,958 theaters (-995); PTA: $638; Cumulative: $37,700,000

9. In the Heights (Warner Bros.) Week 5; Last weekend #10; also on HBO Max (through Sunday)

$630,000 (-47%) in 788 theaters (-617); PTA: $800; Cumulative: $28,318,000

10. Zola (A24) Week 2; Last weekend #9

$620,000 (-48%) in 1,401 theaters (-67); PTA: $443; Cumulative: $3,532,000

Even with these impressive numbers, theatrical revenue probably won’t return to 2019 levels until 2024, according to a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers, per Deadline.