Movie theaters and audiences settled for seconds this weekend. With no new wide releases on the schedule, a mob of holdovers sustained the North American box office, which was led by 㽶Ƶֱ 㽶Ƶֱ in its third week of release.
Amazon MGM Studios㽶Ƶֱ Jason Statham actioner earned $7.4 million to take the No. 1 spot, according to studio estimates Sunday. It was down only 14% from the previous weekend and brings its running domestic total to $42.3 million. Globally, it has crossed $100 million.
Paramount㽶Ƶֱs 㽶Ƶֱ 㽶Ƶֱ musical, which is also in its third weekend, was close behind, with $7.3 million. The movie has now earned $60.8 million in North America.
In third place, Warner Bros.㽶Ƶֱ 㽶Ƶֱ 㽶Ƶֱ added $5.9 million in its seventh weekend as the inches closer to $200 million domestic. It㽶Ƶֱs currently at $195.2 million domestic.
Rounding out the top five were Universal and Illumination㽶Ƶֱs 㽶ƵֱMigration,㽶Ƶֱ with $5.1 million, which pushed it over the $100 million mark domestically, and Sony㽶Ƶֱs romantic comedy 㽶ƵֱAnyone But You,㽶Ƶֱ with $4.8 million, bringing its total to $71.2 million.
This was the first moviegoing weekend following . While many top contenders are , including 㽶ƵֱOppenheimer,㽶Ƶֱ 㽶ƵֱBarbie,㽶Ƶֱ 㽶ƵֱKillers of the Flower Moon㽶Ƶֱ and 㽶ƵֱThe Holdovers,㽶Ƶֱ several films still in theaters got sizable boosts from the buzz. Amazon and MGM㽶Ƶֱs 㽶ƵֱAmerican Fiction,㽶Ƶֱ nominated for five awards, including best picture and best actor for Jeffrey Wright, got a 65% bump in its seventh week, with $2.9 million in ticket sales.
Searchlight㽶Ƶֱs 㽶ƵֱPoor Things,㽶Ƶֱ nominated for 11 Oscars including best picture, best director and best actress for Emma Stone, is also expected to get a big boost. On Friday, in its eighth weekend, it earned $849,000.
And A24㽶Ƶֱs 㽶ƵֱThe Zone of Interest,㽶Ƶֱ which had five nominations, including best picture and best director for Johathan Glazer, expanded to 317 screens, where it earned $1.1 million. The studio said most audiences in top markets were under 35.
Universal had leading Oscar nominee 㽶ƵֱOppenheimer㽶Ƶֱ in 1,262 theaters, where it earned an additional million dollars this weekend. Focus Features also added 1,140 screens for its big Oscar contender, Alexander Payne㽶Ƶֱs 㽶ƵֱThe Holdovers,㽶Ƶֱ which is also streaming on Peacock. It added an estimated $520,000, bringing its running total to $19.3 million.
Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press