Halloween Kills does just that at North American box office with US$50.4m debut

Los Angeles

IT IS that time of year again, as films about death, dying and carnage topped the North American box office this past weekend, led by Universal's Halloween Kills with a strong opening take of US$50.4 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported on Sunday (Oct 17).

The three-day estimate represented the biggest opening for a horror flick during the pandemic era, topping A Quiet Place Part II, which opened with US$47.5 million.

And it came despite the film's simultaneous release on the Peacock streaming service - the best dual-release performance to date.

Halloween Kills, a follow-on to 2018's Halloween, again stars Jamie Lee Curtis as protagonist Laurie Strode and Nick Castle as the monstrous Michael Myers.

In second place after a sharp drop from last week's top spot was United Artists' latest James Bond film No Time to Die, which took in US$24.3 million.

The movie, the last to feature Daniel Craig as Secret Agent 007, sees Ian Fleming's spy hero dragged out of retirement to take on old foes Blofeld and the criminal network Spectre.

Sony's Marvel superhero film Venom: Let There Be Carnage snatched third place with a US$16.5 million haul.

Tom Hardy plays investigative journalist Eddie Brock, whose symbiotic bond with an alien named Venom gives him superpowers, while Woody Harrelson portrays a serial killer who has broken out of prison after merging with another alien.

Fourth spot went to United Artists' The Addams Family 2, with a take of US$7.2 million. The animated feature follows the creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky and altogether ooky family as they go on vacation.

And in fifth position, Ridley Scott's The Last Duel opened with a pallid US$4.8 million despite glowing reviews.

It stars Matt Damon, Adam Driver and Ben Affleck in a tale set in 14th century France - the sort of historic yarn that usually attracts an older audience, a demographic still loath to return to Covid-era movie houses.

Rounding out the top 10 were Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (US$3.5 million); Free Guy (US$680,000); Lamb (US$543,000); Candyman (US$460,000); and Dear Evan Hansen (US$410,000). AFP