Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The holiday weekend in North America saw two films battling for box-office supremacy, and both emerged with a claim to first place. Disney’s animated drama “Mufasa: The Lion King” prevailed in the five days from Christmas Day through Sunday with an estimated take of $63.8 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
However, Paramount’s action comedy “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” which booked $59.9 million for that same five-day holiday period, came out on top for the traditional Friday-through-Sunday stretch, edging the Disney film by $38 million to $37.1 million. Overall, the weekend generated “big, although not record-breaking box office” numbers, said analyst David A. Gross, adding that “the next seven days should be excellent.”
New vampire pic “Nosferatu” from Focus Features also posted impressive numbers, with $40.3 million for the five-day period and $21.2 million for the three-day weekend. Gross called that “an excellent opening for a new horror film” — a remake of the 1922 silent classic inspired by the 1897 novel “Dracula” — and noted that critics’ reviews are outstanding. The ensemble cast includes Bill Skarsgard, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, and Nicholas Hoult.
Universal’s musical fantasy “Wicked,” starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, earned $31.7 million for five days ($19.5 million for three) as the latest spin on the magical world of Oz slipped one spot to fourth place. Its global earnings now stand at $634 million. Meanwhile, Disney’s animated “Moana 2” had an estimated $28.3 million in ticket sales for five days ($18.2 million for three), slipping one spot but holding on to top-five status for the fifth straight week.
Meantime, Searchlight Pictures’ “A Complete Unknown,” with Timothee Chalamet portraying an enigmatic Bob Dylan during the dizzying years that propelled the singer-songwriter from anonymity to world fame, took in a solid $23.3 million for five days ($11.6 million for three). Dylan himself has described Chalamet as a “brilliant actor.”
Rounding out the top 10 were:
– “Babygirl” ($7.2 million for five days, $4.4 million for three)
– “Gladiator II” ($5.9 million; $4.2 million)
– “Homestead” ($5.3 million; $3.2 million)
– “The Fire Inside” ($4.3 million; $2 million)
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