‘Wakanda’ extends its box-office reign in North American theatres

DISNEY and Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever dominated the North American box office for a second straight weekend, taking in an estimated US$67.3 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported on Sunday (Nov 20).

That take for the sequel to the hugely popular Black Panther was a bit below industry expectations despite a current global total of US$546 million, trade publications said.

But it was still more than seven times its closest competitor in North American theatres, Searchlight’s new horror-comedy film The Menu, which took in US$9 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period.

The Menu stars Ralph Fiennes as a celebrity chef who prepares an elaborate — and increasingly creepy — meal for a group of wealthy, entitled people (including Anya Taylor-Joy of The Queen’s Gambit) who have no idea what, or who is about to be served.

In third place was a surprise success, The Chosen Season 3: Episodes 1 & 2, a crowd-funded Christian movie that pulled in US$8.2 million. “By Christian drama film standards, it’s a very good opening,” said David A Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.

In its fifth week out, Warner Bros’ superhero film Black Adam placed fourth, at US$4.5 million. Dwayne Johnson stars in the Shazam! spinoff.

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In fifth place was Universal rom-com Ticket to Paradise, at US$3.2 million. Julia Roberts and George Clooney star.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

• She Said (US$2.3 million)
• Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (US$1.9 million)
• Smile (US$1.2 million)
• Drishyam 2 (US$1.1 million)
• Prey for the Devil (US$935,000)

AFP