The animated sensation “Kung Fu Panda 4” continues to dominate the North American box office for the second consecutive week. Raking in $30 million from ticket sales over the weekend, this Universal and DreamWorks Animation collaboration remains a theatrical favorite, as reported by studio estimates on Sunday.
With the beloved character voiced by Jack Black, the “Kung Fu Panda” series has garnered an impressive $1.9 billion in box office revenue since its debut in 2008. The success has further expanded into multiple animated series, shorts, video games, and even a holiday special. Showing in 4,067 venues across North America, the fourth chapter of the saga has so far amassed $107.7 million in domestic earnings.
Even with a range of new films entering theaters in large numbers, such as Lionsgate’s heartwarming ” Arthur the King,” the satirical “The American Society of Magical Negroes” by Focus Features, and A24’s intense thriller featuring Kristen Stewart, ” Love Lies Bleeding,” the weekend belonged to established franchises.
Dune: Part Two” claimed the second spot narrowly on the charts, bringing in $29.1 million during its third weekend, which is a modest 37% decrease from the previous weekend. With domestic totals reaching $205.3 million, the sequel is on track to surpass its predecessor’s global haul of around $435 million, having already approached a striking $500 million worldwide.
” Arthur the King,” the best-performing newcomer, debuted in the third position with $7.5 million from 3,003 theaters. Despite predictions estimating between $8 million to $10 million, profitability seems promising due to its modest production costs and international pre-sales. The film, directed by Simon Cellan Jones and penned by Michael Brandt, narrates the true story of a stray dog joining an adventure racer on an arduous journey in the Dominican Republic, starring Simu Liu beside Mark Wahlberg. With an optimistic A CinemaScore, the film’s producers anticipate that strong word-of-mouth recommendations will sustain its momentum.
Meanwhile, ” Love Lies Bleeding” premiered in 1,362 theaters, collecting $2.5 million. The feature, written and directed by Rose Glass of ” Saint Maud” fame, plays out as an ’80s-themed Western thriller centered around a solitary gym manager (Stewart) and a bodybuilder (Katy O’Brian) descending on a small town.
The launch of “The American Society of Magical Negroes” in 1,147 theaters resulted in an estimated $1.3 million revenue. With 52% of its opening audience being Black, the film, both written and directed by Kobi Libii, employs satire to explore a clandestine society of Black individuals devoted to easing the lives of white people, featuring Justice Smith and David Alan Grier.
In the post-Oscar weekend, “ Poor Things” managed to add $2.3 million globally to its tally, pushing its cumulative total to $112.6 million.
Looking ahead, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is set to enter the fray next weekend, hoping to create a buzz with its established fan base and franchise clout.
According to Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore, the absence of a dominating newcomer made for a relatively slow weekend at the box office. Anticipation is building, however, for upcoming major releases like ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ and ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,’ expected to bring March to an energetic finish.
Dergarabedian further remarked that patience is required as the industry gears up for May’s promising releases like ‘The Fall Guy,’ signaling the onset of the summer movie season. He assures that despite a slower pace, the lineup of upcoming movies holds great potential.
Comscore provided the weekend’s estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at theaters in the U.S. and Canada. They will release the final domestic figures on Monday. The current top ten of the box office are:
1. “Kung Fu Panda 4,” $30 million.
2. “Dune: Part Two,” $29.1 million.
3. “Arthur the King,” $7.5 million.
4. “Imaginary,” $5.6 million.
5. “Cabrini,” $2.8 million.
6. “Love Lies Bleeding,” $2.5 million.
7. “Bob Marley: One Love,” $2.3 million.
8. “One Life,” $1.7 million.
9. “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” $1.3 million.
10. “Ordinary Angels,” $1 million.
FAQs about ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Box Office Success:
- How much has ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ earned domestically?
- The film has grossed $107.7 million in North American theaters so far.
- What other movies competed with ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ at the box office?
- New releases included “Arthur the King,” “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” and “Love Lies Bleeding,” among others.
- What movie was the closest competitor to ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ this weekend?
- “Dune: Part Two” was a close second, earning $29.1 million.
- What are the estimates for next weekend’s box office?
- “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is expected to make a significant impact next weekend.
Conclusion:
‘Kung Fu Panda 4′ has impressively maintained its number one spot at the box office for the second week in a row, showcasing the enduring appeal of the franchise. While other new releases attempted to capture audiences’ attention, none could displace the martial arts-loving panda and its continuing saga. With an impressive domestic gross and a strong performance against new and sustaining releases alike, ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ proves that some titles resonate deeply with moviegoers, both young and old. As the industry looks forward to upcoming major releases and an exciting summer movie season, ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ enjoys its current reign at the top of the box office success.