411 Box Office Report: Avatar: The Way Of Water Stays Strong In Third Weekend

Avatar: The Way Of Water continued powering its way through big numbers as it reigned atop the box office this weekend. The James Cameron blockbuster spent a third weekend at #1 with $63.4 million over the three-day weekend and a projected $82.4 million including Monday. That three-day number is up less than a percent from last weekend’s take.

While The Way Of Water has a high bar to reach for success, it’s rising to the challenge. The film cost a reported $400 million-plus before marketing and thus far it has grossed $440.5 million domestically and $1.4 billion worldwide. Domestically, the film is tracking about 6% ahead of Top Gun: Maverick, though it is unlikely to reach that film’s $718.7 million US total. That said, it’s in a clear path to $500 million and likely much more at this point. The overseas numbers have been staying strong and $2 billon worldwide, remains a possibility.

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish came in at #2 again with $16.3 million over three days and a projected four-day of $21.7 million. The three-day numbers are up 31% from its opening weekend, which is welcome news for Universal Pictures considering how softly the film opened. Family audiences clearly decided to give it a second chance this weekend.

The film still has a ways to go for profit, but it’s not out of reach by any stretch. Thus far the film has $66.1 million domestically and $134.9 million worldwide, which are solid numbers that need to stay strong to make back the $90 million budget plus marketing. Domestically the film seems headed for around $90 million or so.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever rose to #3 in its eighth weekend with $4.8 million over three days (up 38%) and $6.5 million through Monday. The MCU film now has $438 million domestically and $820.1 million worldwide, making it yet another Marvel hit. It is still likely to close out its domestic run at about $450 million, good enough to be seventh-highest domestic gross of any MCU film. The budget was $250 million.

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody had a rough start last weekend, and this weekend didn’t hugely help. The biopic grossed $4.3 million over three days – down 11% – and $5.4 million over four. That puts it at $16 million domestically and $29.1 million worldwide, not the numbers it needs to be at in order to be a hit for Sony considering a $45 million budget. At this point the film seems likely to finish out domestically around $25 million.

Babylon followed up its incredibly bad start with a rough second weekend, down 24% over the three-day weekend with $2.7 million over three days and notching a projected $3.6 million over four. Damien Chazelle’s 1920s-set Hollyood drama is a big failure for Paramount with $11 million domestically against a $90 million budget. There’s no good news here; unless there are some truly miraculous overseas grosses when it opens there, this is a bomb. The domestic total should finish off around $$18 million to $20 milion.

Violent Night slipped 39% in its fifth weekend, bringing in $2.1 million through Sunday and $2.7 million through Monday. The R-rated holiday action comedy is a hit for Universal at $48.1 million domestically and $73.4 million worldwide, all against a $20 million budget. It should close out around $55 million in the US.

The Whale brought in $1.3 million over three days and $1.8 million over four, as Brendan Fraser continues to garner buzz for his performance. The A24 drama is benefitting from its platforming nature, and currently has $6.2 million domestically. There’s no word yet on the film’s budget, but it’s doing okay and if A24 continues to platform it up it could end up with stronger numbers through January.

The Fabelmans leapt 53% in its eighth weekend, grossing $1.1 million over three days and $1.5 million over four. The Steven Spielberg drama still has a long, long way to go to make back its $40 million budget; it currently has $12.6 million stateside and $13.1 million worldwide. It will get a boost when Oscar nominations are announced and if it continues to build its theater count. Will it make a profit? That seems less sure.

The Menu jumped 57% in its seventh week, bringing in $1.1 million over three days and $1.4 million over four days. The comedy-thriller is a hit for Searchlight with $36.5 million domestically and $71.2 million worldwide, with a $30 million budget. The final total looks to be around $40 million.

Strange World was up 30% from last weekend’s drop, bringing in $538,000 over three days and $747,000 over four days. The Disney Animation film is still a bomb, with $37.2 million domestically and $67.5 million worldwide against a $135 million budget. It won’t make it to $40 million domestically.

Next weekend will see a new film enter the charts, as killer doll thriller M3GAN is targeting a healthy $20 million start (though not enough to dethrone Avatar: The Way Of Water). UA’s Women Talking will also go wide, while the Tom Hanks film A Man Called Otto enters limited release.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN (Three-Day & Four-Day Domestic Numbers)
1. Avatar: The Way Of Water – $63.4 million/$82.4 million ($440.5 million total, $1.4 billion WW)
2. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – $16.3 million/$21.7 million ($66.1 million total, $134.9 million WW)
3. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – $4.8 million/$6.5 million ($439.6 million total, $820.1 million WW)
4. Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody – $4.3 million/$5.4 million ($16 million total, $29.1 million WW)
5. Babylon – $2.7 million/$3.6 million ($11 million total/$11 million WW)
6. Violent Night – $2.1 million/$2.7 million ($48.1 million total, $73.4 million WW)
7. The Whale – $1.3 million/$1.8 million ($6.2 million total/$6.2 million WW)
8. The Fabelmans – $1.1 million/$1.5 million ($12.6 million total, $13.1 million WW)
9. The Menu – $1.1 million/$1.4 million ($36.5 million total, $71.2 million WW)
10. Strange World – $538,000/$747,000 ($37.2 million total, $67.5 million WW)