NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Ghost busting is still a good business.
collected $45.2 million in ticket sales over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday, handing Sony Pictures the studio鈥檚 first No. 1 film since last summer.
The opening weekend for 鈥淔rozen Empire,鈥� in 4,345 theaters, was nearly exactly the same as in 2021. 鈥淎fterlife鈥� rebooted the franchise with a sequel built around the descendants (Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace) of Harold Ramis鈥� Egon Spengler, along with Paul Rudd鈥檚 seismologist Gary Grooberson.
Neither film but audiences have been more receptive. 鈥淔rozen Empire鈥� garnered a B+ CinemaScore from moviegoers, a tick down from the A- score for 鈥淎fterlife.鈥� 鈥淔rozen Empire鈥� isn't assured of profitability, but it will hope for sustained business over spring break.
鈥淕hostbusters鈥� films tend to make a low impact internationally. In 25 overseas markets, 鈥淔rozen Empire鈥� added $16.4 million.
The latest 鈥淕hostbusters鈥� cost about $100 million to make. After Jason Reitman took over directing duties from his father, Ivan Reitman, to helm 鈥淕hostbusters: Afterlife,鈥� 鈥淔rozen Empire鈥� is directed by Gil Kenan, co-writer of 鈥淎fterlife.鈥�
Those two sequels took 鈥淕hostbusters鈥� in a more family-oriented, albeit PG-13 rated, direction, with original cast members Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Bill Murray returning in supporting roles. After the 2016 female-led 鈥淕hostbusters鈥� prompted a backlash, Sony rebooted the franchise.
The weekend鈥檚 other new wide release was the horror film starring Sydney Sweeney as an American nun at a remote Italian convent. The film, released by Neon following a premiere at SXSW, debuted with $5.4 million on 2,354 screens. Sweeney鈥檚 ascending star power helped make 鈥淎nyone But You鈥� one of the most successful rom-coms in years. But 鈥泪尘尘补肠耻濒补迟别,鈥� an independent production that cost less than $10 million make, isn鈥檛 getting the same bounce.
鈥淭he movie features the popular Sydney Sweeney, but horror movies are not cast-driven,鈥� wrote David A. Gross for the consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e driven by the hook: the evil doll, the wicked smile, the invisible or silent presence, the found footage, the possessed child. That鈥檚 what terrifies the horror crowd. The hook is not completely clear here.鈥�
The No. 2 spot went to which continues to hold well. The starring Timoth茅e Chalamet added $17.6 million in its fourth weekend of release, bringing the Warner Bros. release's domestic total to $233.4 million. Overseas sales are just as strong, adding up to a $574.4 million worldwide haul.
After two weeks atop the box office, Universal's slid to third place with $16.8 million over its third weekend. The well-performing DreamWorks animated sequel is up to $133.2 million domestic. It debuted with $25.7 million in China, where the movies have historically been popular. When the 2008 鈥淜ung Fu Panda鈥� was released, its success partly inspired China to expand its own film production.
Estimated ticket sales are for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. 鈥淕hostbusters: Frozen Empire,鈥� $45.2 million.
2. 鈥淒une: Part Two," $17.6 million.
3. 鈥淜ung Fu Panda 4,鈥� $16.8 million.
4. 鈥泪尘尘补肠耻濒补迟别,鈥� $5.4 million.
5. 鈥淎rthur the King,鈥� $4.4 million.
6. 鈥淟ate Night With the Devil,鈥� $2.8 million.
7. 鈥淚maginary,鈥� $2.8 million.
8. 鈥淟ove Lies Bleeding,鈥� $1.6 million.
9. 鈥淐abrini,鈥� $1.4 million.
10. 鈥淏ob Marley: One Love,鈥� $1.1 million.
___
Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at:
Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
