Universal’s horror sequelHalloween Killsover-performed in its opening weekend, raking in an estimated $50 million in three days. That’s the largest debut for a film that was also released day-and-date on streaming during the pandemic era.
Halloween Killswas projected to open at around $30-$40 million, which would have put it behind the first film’s $76 million opening.Deadlinereports that Universal spent more on marketing the sequel than it did on the first — lower than $100 million, as compared to the 2018 movie’s $75.5 million.
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This is the third weekend in a row where all films have made more than $100 million combined. Thanks toHalloween Kills’ strong opening, and the $15 million-plus that both holdoversNo Time to DieandVenom: Let There Be Carnagemade, the total haul for the weekend stood at $110 million.
Daniel Craig’s final James Bond film is looking at number two this weekend, with a $24.4 million second weekend haul, after under-performing in its opening weekend. Internationally, however, theCary Joji Fukunaga-directed film is inching towards $400 million; its domestic total stands just shy of the $100 million-mark. It was speculated that older audiences aren’t quite ready to step out yet, and that their absence impacted the film’s opening, which ranks fourth-lowest (of five) among the Craig Bonds.
A similar argument can be made for directorRidley Scott’s historical epic,The Last Duel, which is looking at a $5 million opening after a $1.8 million Friday debut. That puts the film — starringJodie Comer,Matt Damon,Adam Driver, andBen Affleck— at the number five spot this weekend.
Venom 2, after its record-setting $90 million opening weekend and a concerning second weekend drop, made an estimated $16 million in its third weekend, for a running domestic total of $167 million. Directed byAndy Serkisand starringTom Hardyas the Marvel antihero, the film faces a tough challenge if it wants to touch the first film’s strong $850 million worldwide haul. BothVenom 2andNo Time to Diewill open in the ever-important China marketplace later this month.
The number four spot was claimed by another sequel, the animated filmThe Addams Family 2, which made $6.7 million this weekend for a running domestic total of just over $40 million.The Addams Family 2is available to watch at home via On-Demand retailers, including Amazon, Redbox, AMC Theaters On Demand, and more. The first movie, released in 2019, made over $200 million worldwide.
Next weekend, all eyes will be onDenis Villeneuve’sDune, which carries a hefty price-tag and the weight of the franchise’s future on its shoulders. The film arrives stateside with more than $100 million in the bank already from international territories.
