By Jake Coyle, Film Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --The Blumhouse evil-doll horror film "M3gan" got off to a killer start, debuting with $30.2 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates, while "Avatar: The Way of Water" continued its box-office reign in the top spot.
Universal Pictures' "M3gan," about a robot companion built for a young girl after her parents are killed in a car accident, rode strong buzz and viral dancing memes to an above-expectations debut. In the low-budget slasher, starring Allison Williams, Blumhouse and producer James Wan crafted Hollywood's first hit of the new year, likely spawning a new high-concept horror franchise.
Audiences gave the PG-13 film a "B" CinemaScore — though reviews (94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) were stronger for the modern, techy twist on a "Child's Play"-like thriller. It added $10 million internationally.
But while "M3gan" drew audiences largely in 2D showings, large-format screens continued to be soaked up by James Cameron's "Avatar: The Way of Water." The 3-D three-hour sequel remained No. 1 for the fourth straight week in U.S. and Canadian theaters with $45 million in sales.
Cameron's sci-fi spectacle has now surpassed $500 million domestically and $1.7 billion globally. After dominating the otherwise lackluster holiday corridor, the "Avatar" sequel is nearly matching the original's pace; the 2009 "Avatar" scored $50.3 million in its fourth weekend. "The Way of Water" already ranks as the seventh highest grossing film ever, not accounting for inflation — a total particularly owed to its strong overseas performance. The film's $1.2 billion in international ticket sales exceeds that of any film released since the start of the pandemic.
"M3gan" was the only new film in wide release, though Sony Pictures' "A Man Called Otto," starring Tom Hanks, played in 637 theaters after first launching in four theaters. The film, a remake of the Swedish film "A Man Called Ove," managed a solid $4.2 million ahead of its nationwide release on Friday.
Third place went to "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish," with $13.1 million in its third week of release. The animated Universal Pictures sequel has tallied $87.7 million in three weeks, plus $109.7 million internationally.
While many awards contenders have struggled in recent months at the box office, Darren Aronofsky's "The Whale" is proving a modest exception. The A24 indie starring Brendan Fraser ranked seventh in its fifth week of release with $1.5 million and a cumulative total of $8.6 million — a good return for a film that cost an estimated $3 million to make.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Avatar: The Way of Water," $45 million.
2. "M3gan," $30.2 million.
3. "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish," $13.1 million.
4. "A Man Called Otto," $4.2 million.
5. "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," $4 million.
6. "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody," $2.4 million.
7. "The Whale," $1.5 million.
8. "Babylon," $1.4 million.
9. "Violent Night," $740,000.
10. "The Menu," $713,000.
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More