LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� As Universal Pictures prepared for a big night at the with 鈥淥ppenheimer,鈥� the studio also celebrated the No. 1 debut of which collected $58.3 million in domestic theaters over the weekend, according to estimates Sunday.
鈥淜ung Fu Panda 4,鈥� the first film in the DreamWorks Animation franchise since the third installment in 2016, got off to a better start than all but the 2008 original. That 鈥淜ung Fu Panda,鈥� which began the mystical adventures of Jack Black鈥檚 panda warrior Po, launched with $60.2 million.
Working in favor of 鈥淜ung Fu Panda 4": It's the first big family movie 鈥淜ung Fu Panda 4" added $22 million internationally.
The news was just as good for Denis Villeneuve鈥檚 sci-fi epic sequel held strongly in its second week, dropping a modest 44%. It grossed $46 million in its second week, bringing its domestic cumulative total to $157 million for Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures.
Riding strong reviews, great word-of-mouth and "Dune: Part Two鈥� appears well set up for a long theatrical run. Most of Sunday's Oscar nominees have already but 鈥淒une" could wind up at next year's Academy Awards.
Opening in third place was the Lionsgate, Blumhouse horror release 鈥淚maginary," about a sinister teddy bear. It debuted with $10 million.
Following it was 鈥淐abrini,鈥� a portrait of the 19th century Catholic missionary Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (played by Cristiana Dell鈥橝nna). The film, released by the Christian-based company Angel Studios, the studio behind the 2023 surprise hit 鈥淪ound of Freedom,鈥� collected $7.5 million.
A24 also debuted the critically acclaimed neo-noir starring Kristen Stewart, on five screens in New York and Los Angeles. It grossed $167,463 for a good per-screen average of $33,493.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. 鈥淜ung Fu Panda 4,鈥� $58.3 million.
2. 鈥淒une: Part Two,鈥� $46 million.
3. 鈥淚maginary,鈥� $10 million.
4. 鈥淐abrini,鈥� $7.6 million.
5. 鈥淏ob Marley: One Love,鈥� $4.1 million.
6. 鈥淥rdinary Angels,鈥� $2 million.
7. 鈥淢adame Web,鈥� $1.1 million.
8. 鈥淢igration,鈥� $1.1 million.
9. 鈥淵olo,鈥� $840,000
10. MET Opera: 鈥淟a Forza del Destino,鈥� $768,000.
Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
