NEW YORK: In a decisive victory, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” maintained its stronghold at the box office for the second consecutive week, fending off competition from new releases. According to studio estimates released on Sunday, the MonsterVerse crossover film secured $31.7 million in its sophomore weekend, marking a 60% decline from its impressive $80 million debut. Despite this drop, the Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures collaboration, helmed by director Adam Wingard, continues to surpass expectations.
With a global total of $361.1 million amassed in just two weeks, “Godzilla x Kong” is poised to potentially surpass the $529 million worldwide earnings of its 2014 predecessor, “Godzilla.” The latest installment, featuring an epic team-up between Godzilla and Kong, was produced at a cost of approximately $135 million.
While “Godzilla x Kong” maintained its dominance, another primate-themed film made its debut in theaters. Dev Patel’s “Monkey Man,” a revenge thriller set in India and distributed by Universal Pictures, opened strongly with an estimated $10.1 million across 3,029 North American theaters. Patel’s directorial debut, which also stars him in a leading role, showcases a bloody and politically charged narrative.
In contrast, Disney’s 20th Century Studios release, “The First Omen,” struggled to make an impact, debuting in fourth place with $8.4 million domestically across 3,375 theaters. Despite a lackluster start in the U.S., the horror prequel garnered an additional $9.1 million from international markets. Directed by Arkasha Stevenson and starring Nell Tiger Free, Tawfeek Barhom, and Bill Nighy, “The First Omen” explores the origins of the iconic 1976 film.
Meanwhile, Sony’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” secured third place with $9 million in its third weekend, while Warner Bros.’ “Dune: Part Two” continued its strong performance, adding $7.2 million in its sixth week.
In China, Hayao Miyazaki’s acclaimed anime film “The Boy and the Heron” made a significant impact, setting records for a non-Chinese animated release with a five-day total surpassing $70 million.
