411 Box Office Report: Avatar: Fire & Ash Tops Primate For Fourth Straight #1

The Na’vi beat out a rabid monkey the box office as Avatar: Fire & Ash held off Primate to remain the champion. The third film in the blockbuster franchise spent its fourth frame at #1 as it brought in $21.3 million. That was down 49% from last weekend’s number, an expected drop considering we’re out of the holiday corridor.

As it stands, Avatar: Fire & Ash is well behind its predecessors but still very profitable. The 20th Century Studios release has $342.6 million domestically and a whopping $1.23 billion overseas. The international audiences always come out for these films, much as they do other blockbusters. Fire & Ash is still taking aim at around $375 million domestically by the end of its run and will be easily profitable against a $400 million budget.

Primate came in at #2. The Johannes Roberts-directed creature feature took in $11.3 million, on the high end of what analysts expected. It’s a solid result for the Paramount-released film and Roberts’ best opening to date, edging past 47 Meters Down’s $11.2 million opening in June of 2017. It also serves as a redemption for the director after Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City busted with a $5.3 million debut in November of 2021.

Primate screened first at Fantasia Fest in September and earned positive buzz for its stripped-down approach, focusing on the grisly action. It has earned a very solid 77% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and a B- CinemaScore, not bad for the genre. The RT audience score is slightly milder at 74%. The film is in a staggered release overseas and took in $2.1 million in seven territories. With a $21 million budget, it is in good shape and should be able to close in the US with around $28 million to $30 million.

The Housemaid continues to excel with great box office legs, notching the lowest drop of the top 10 once again. The Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried domestic thriller was down a mere 26% to $11.2 million in its third weekend. That puts the film at $94.2 million domestically and a stellar $192.5 million worldwide.

The Housemaid is now Sweeney’s highest domestic grossing film and only $26 million from Anyone But You’s $218.9 million worldwide total, which it should be able to pass. It could close out as high as $120 million if it continues to hold on this well. The film puts a shiny end to the year for Lionsgate, who are making big money off this $35 million-budgeted film and have already started work on the sequel.

Zootopia 2 was down 48% in its seventh weekend to add $10.1 million to its domestic total. The Disney Animation film continues to rake in the dough with $378.8 million stateside and $1.655 billion worldwide, massive against a $150 million budget. A $400 million domestic total is looking very possible at this point, but either way this one is huge.

Greenland 2: Migration didn’t travel very far in its opening weekend. The Gerard Butler post-apocalyptic adventure sequel took in just $8.5 million. That’s less than the low teens start that Lionsgate was hoping for.

The first Greenland did not get a US theatrical release, but it was a solid performer overseas with $53 million. The problem is, this was a sequel no one was clamoring for – especially in the US, where most people missed the original. The film is mild with critics, scoring a 58% aggregate on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences were “meh” on it with a B- CinemaScore and 65% RT audience rating. The film has yet to open overseas but domestically it is unlikely to get much past $20 million. The film cost $90 million to make, but Lionsgate is only on the hook for $10 million on domestic distribution rights so it may eke out a tiny bit of profit.

Marty Supreme continues to hold on well as it was down 39% in its third weekend of wide release. The Timothee Chalamet-led drama grossed $7.6 million. That brings its total to $70.1 million stateside and $79.1 million worldwide with plenty of big markets yet to open overseas. The film A24’s second-biggest domestic grossing film of all-time and will top Everything Everywhere All At Once’s $77.2 million in very short order. It is looking like it will finish out at $85 million stateside and will rely on its overseas numbers to get to profit against a $65 million budget.

Anaconda was down 49% in its third weekend to take in $5.1 million. The meta comedy sequel played is profitable for Sony Pictures with $54.3 million domestically and $110.1.4 million worldwide. Against a $45 million budget. At this point, it should close out at about $65 million, a number Sony is very happy with even if it’s not the new Jumanji.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants dipped 54% in its fourth weekend for a $3.8 million take. The franchise family comedy continues to make its way into profit with $63.6 million in the US and $132.3 million worldwide, good enough a $64 million budget. It should finish its run at $70 million stateside.

Angel Studios’ David was down 60% its fourth weekend as grossed $3.1 million. The animated Biblical movie is a big hit with $75.2 million in the US and $75.6 million worldwide. As noted last week, the budget was $61 million but most of that was crowdfunded, making it profitable. It is still set to close at about $80 million.

Song Sung Blue finished out the top 10, slipping 49% in its third weekend to $3 million. The music-themed drama is doing okay enough, with $31.1 million in the US and $40.7 million worldwide. With a $30 million budget, its profit margin from theaters isn’t yet clear but it will be successful with digital revenue. $35 million to $38 million seems likely for its endgame.

We are likely to have a new #1 next weekend as 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple hits theaters. The horror sequel is looking at $18 to $20 million to start.

Box Office Top Ten (Three-Day Domestic Numbers)

1. Avatar: Fire & Ash – $21.3 million ($342.6 million total, $1.23 billion WW)
2. Primate – $11.3 million ($11.3 million total, $13.4 million WW)
3. The Housemaid – $11.2 million ($94.2 million total, $192.5 million WW)
4. Zootopia 2 – $10.1 million ($378.8 million total, $1.655 billion WW)
5. Greenland 2: Migration – $8.5 million ($8.5 million total, $8.5 million WW)
6. Marty Supreme – $7.6 million ($70.1 million total, $79.1 million WW)
7. Anaconda – $5.1 million ($54.3 million total, $110.1 million WW)
8. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants – $3.8 million ($63.6 million total, $132.3 million WW)
9. David – $3.1 million ($75.2 million total, $75.6 million WW)
10. Song Sung Blue – $3 million ($31.1 million total, $40.7 million WW)