Godzilla vs Kong tops North American box office for third straight weekend

Los Angeles

THE monster epic, Godzilla vs Kong, from Warner Bros and Legendary, remained atop the North American box office in its third weekend of release. The movie added another US$7.7 million in ticket sales, boosting its North American tally to US$80.5 million.

The film looks to be the first to cross the US$100 million mark in the US and Canada since the pandemic began.

Godzilla vs Kong has been available on HBO Max to subscribers, meaning people who pay for the streaming service can watch it at home for no extra charge. Warner Bros' entire 2021 slate will follow a similar release pattern.

Given the impaired marketplace, new releases have been few and far between. That has given Godzilla vs Kong and other holdover titles free rein over box office charts. Universal's Nobody, an action thriller starring Bob Odenkirk, landed in second place with US$2.5 million. The film has made US$19 million in the US and US$34 million globally in four weeks. Due to an agreement between Universal and several theatre chains including AMC and Cinemark, audiences can already rent Nobody on demand.

Sony's The Unholy secured third spot with US$2 million in its third weekend in theatres. The thriller has generated US$9.5 million to date. Disney's action adventure Raya and the Last Dragon came in fourth with US$1.9 million over the weekend. The family friendly movie, which has been offered on Disney Plus for US$30, has amassed US$37 million in the US since it first hit theatres.

Rounding out the top five is Warner Bros' Tom and Jerry, an animated/live-action hybrid about the cat and mouse duo. It pulled in US$1.1 million, bringing its North American tally to US$42 million. Like Godzilla vs Kong, the film is also available on HBO Max for 31 days. Globally, Tom and Jerry has surpassed US$100 million in ticket sales. REUTERS