NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� 鈥淪pider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse鈥� opened in U.S. and Canadian theaters with a massive $120.5 million, more than tripling the debut of the 2018 animated original and showing the kind of movie-to-movie box-office growth that would be the envy of even the mightiest of Hollywood franchises.
Sony Pictures' 鈥淎cross the Spider-Verse,鈥� the multi-verse spinning animated Spider-Man spinoff, sailed way past expectations, according to studio estimates Sunday, (95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and strong buzz for the hotly anticipated follow-up to
In the sometimes formulaic realm of superhero movies, 2018's 鈥淚nto the Spider-Verse" offered a blast of originality, introducing a teenage webslinger from Brooklyn, Miles Morales ( ), a punk-rock Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) and a host of other Spider-People. It launched with $35.4 million on its way to $384.3 million worldwide.
鈥淎cross the Spider-Verse," which exponentially expands the film's universe-skipping worlds, cost $100 million to make, about half the cost of the average live-action comic-book movie. So at even the forecast $80 million that 鈥淪pider-Verse鈥� had been expected to open, 鈥淎cross the Spider-Verse鈥� would have been a hit.
Instead, it has turned out to be a box-office sensation, and the second largest domestic opening of 2023, trailing only 鈥淭he Super Mario Bros. Movie.鈥� 鈥淎cross the Spider-Verse,鈥� directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson, even topped 鈥淕uardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," which debuted with $118 million, for best opening weekend of the summer so far.
The film, shepherded by writer-producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is part two in a trilogy that will conclude with a third chapter to be released next year. 鈥淎cross the Spider-Verse鈥� over-performed abroad, too, with $88.1 million overseas.
After few family offerings for much of the first half of 2023, theaters are suddenly flush with kid-friendly entertainment. , the Walt Disney Co.'s live action remake 鈥淭he Little Mermaid,鈥� slid to second with $40.6 million in it second weekend.
After launching with $95.5 million and $117.5 million over the four-day Memorial Day weekend, 鈥淭he Little Mermaid鈥� dipped 57%, partly due to the formidable competition from 鈥淎cross the Spider-Verse.鈥�
Having cost a reported $250 million to make, 鈥淭he Little Mermaid鈥� was met with mixed reviews but more enthusiasm from audiences, which gave it an 鈥淎鈥� CinemaScore. But overseas, where previous Disney live-action remakes have thrived, is proving harder territory this time. The film added $42.4 million internationally over the weekend.
Disney also supplied the weekend's top counter-programming option in 鈥淭he Boogeyman,鈥� a mostly well-received horror adaptation of a Stephen King short story. Director Rob Savage's $35 million film, starring Sophie Thatcher and Chris Messina, had originally been intended to debut on Hulu before the studio pivoted. It opened with $12.3 million in ticket sales.
In limited release, the Sundance breakout film launched with an impressive $58,067 per-screen average on four screens. Celine Song's directorial debut stars Greta Lee as a woman torn between a childhood friend from Korea (Teo Yoo) and her American husband (John Magaro).
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," $120.5 million.
2. 鈥淭he Little Mermaid,鈥� $40.6 million.
3. 鈥淭he Boogeyman,鈥� $12.3 million.
4. 鈥淕uardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,鈥� $10.2 million.
5. 鈥淔ast X,鈥� $9.2 million.
6. 鈥淭he Super Mario Bros. Movie,鈥� $3.4 million.
7. 鈥淎bout My Father,鈥� $2.1 million.
8. 鈥淭he Machine,鈥� $1.8 million.
9. 鈥淪uga: Agust D Tour Live in Japan,鈥� $1.2 million.
10. 鈥淵ou Hurt My Feelings,鈥� $770,000.
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Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
