Disney’s juggernaut “Avatar: Fire and Ash” continues its unstoppable run, holding firm at No. 1 for its fifth consecutive frame amid a subdued Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend. The James Cameron-helmed epic raked in $13.3 million over the three-day period (Jan. 16-18) and $17.2 million across the four-day stretch, pushing its domestic cume to $363.5 million and global haul to a staggering $1.31 billion. While its pace trails the astronomical benchmarks set by its predecessors, the sci-fi spectacle remains a box office behemoth in a January marketplace that’s moving at a measured clip.
Newcomers Struggle to Spark
The weekend’s biggest newcomer, Sony’s “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” failed to ignite much heat, bowing to $13 million Friday-Sunday and approximately $15 million over the extended holiday. Directed by Nia DaCosta from a script by Alex Garland, the post-apocalyptic thriller — the fourth entry in the zombie-ravaged franchise — added $16.2 million from 61 international territories, for a worldwide debut of $31.1 million. That’s a tepid start considering the film’s $63 million production budget (pre-marketing), though it has earned rave reviews and strong audience buzz for its gripping continuation of the “28 Years Later” saga, starring Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell and Alfie Williams.
“Analysts point to franchise fatigue as a potential culprit, with the quick turnaround from the prior installment possibly dampening enthusiasm. Perhaps Matt Damon was right in his recent critique of ‘distracted viewing’ habits; with so much ‘content’ hitting streamers and theaters simultaneously, even prestige horror franchises are struggling to maintain the singular audience focus required for a massive opening.“
Holdovers Keep the Momentum
Rounding out the podium, Disney’s animated sequel “Zootopia 2” snagged third place with $9 million over the weekend and $11.6 million for the four days, after eight weeks in release. The family favorite has now amassed $392 million stateside and $1.7 billion globally, officially surpassing “Frozen 2” to become the highest-grossing animated Hollywood feature of all time — a milestone that’s music to the Mouse House’s ears.
In fourth, the thriller “The Housemaid,” toplined by Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, held steady with $8.5 million, boosting its North American total to $108.7 million and worldwide to $247.3 million. The pic’s consistent performance underscores its appeal as a mid-budget crowd-pleaser in a season dominated by tentpoles.
A24’s “Marty Supreme” claimed fifth, adding $5.4 million three-day and $6.6 million four-day to reach an $80.8 million domestic cume. That figure catapults the comedy past “Everything Everywhere All at Once” as the indie distributor’s top earner in the U.S., with global receipts at $97 million and more territories yet to open.
Further down the chart, Park Chan-wook’s dark comedy “No Other Choice” expanded gradually, pulling in $2.2 million, while Chloé Zhao’s awards contender “Hamnet” added $1.3 million for a solid $15 million domestic total, buoyed by Oscar buzz.
On the talent front, Zoe Saldaña’s starring role in “Avatar: Fire and Ash” has propelled her to the title of highest-grossing actress in history, while Cameron becomes the first director to helm four films each crossing the $1 billion mark worldwide.
Overall, the MLK frame provided a modest boost, but with no major fireworks from new releases, eyes turn to upcoming slates to shake up the standings. As the industry navigates a post-holiday lull, holdovers like “Avatar” prove that blue-skinned aliens still rule the roost.
Source: Variety
