NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� 鈥淐aptain America: Brave New World鈥� , but crash-landed in its second go-around with audiences.
鈥淏rave New World,鈥� the latest sign that the Marvel machine isn鈥檛 quite what it used to be, remained No. 1 at the box office in its second frame with $28.2 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. But after a debut of $100 million over four days and $88 million over three days, that meant a steep drop of 68%.
While blockbusters often see significant slides in their second weekends, only two previous MCU titles have fallen off so fast: 2023鈥檚 which fell 78%, and 2023鈥檚 which dropped 70%.
The Anthony Mackie-led 鈥淐aptain America鈥� installment has been slammed by critics, and audiences also have graded it poorly, with a 鈥淏-鈥� CinemaScore. 鈥淏rave New World,鈥� which fans had hoped would right the Marvel ship, has been largely met as another example of a once impenetrable brand struggling to recapture its pre-鈥淎vengers: Endgame鈥� aura of invincibility.
Still, 鈥淏rave New World鈥� has quickly grossed $289.4 million worldwide, with international sales nearly reaching $150 million. And with few big-budget offerings arriving in theaters in the coming weeks, it will have scant competition through much of March.
The biggest new release of the weekend was the director鈥檚 follow-up to his 2024 horror hit, 鈥淟onglegs.鈥� Adapted from a Stephen King short story, 鈥淭he Monkey鈥� opened with $14.2 million for Neon, the second-best debut for the indie distributor. The best? 鈥淟onglegs,鈥� which
Neon had much to celebrate over the weekend. Its top awards contender, by Sean Baker, into next Sunday's Academy Awards. The best-picture favorite added on Saturday.
Perkins, Neon and Blumhouse, which partnered in the release of 鈥淭he Monkey,鈥� have found a productive low-budget collaboration, with more on the way. Even if 鈥淭he Monkey鈥� doesn鈥檛 reach the heights of 鈥淟onglegs鈥� ($126.9 million globally), Perkins and Neon return with 鈥淜eeper鈥� this October.
鈥淭he Monkey,鈥� starring Tatiana Maslany and Theo James, revolves around an old monkey toy found in an attic. Reviews have been good (77% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), though audiences were less impressed, giving it a C+ CinemaScore. Horror films, though, typically grade low.
As it did with 鈥淟onglegs,鈥� Neon leaned into cryptic promotion for 鈥淭he Monkey,鈥� along with some macabre marketing. A funeral premiere was held Los Angeles鈥� Immanuel Presbyterian Church, and fan screenings took place at Hollywood Cemetery. The film, produced by James Wan, cost $10 million to make.
Lionsgate鈥檚 鈥淭he Unbreakable Boy鈥� opened with a paltry $2.5 million in 1,687 theaters. The Christian-themed Jon Gunn-directed film starring Zachary Levi and Meghann Fahy, is about parents who learn their son is autistic and has brittle bone disease.
鈥淧addington in Peru,鈥� the third installment of the marmalade-mad bear, fell to third place in its second weekend. It grossed $6.5 million in 3,890 locations, bringing its two-week total to $25.2 million. 鈥淧addington in Peru鈥� has been most popular overseas, where it's collected $125 million thus far.
鈥淣e Zha 2,鈥� the animated Chinese juggernaut, took in $3.1 million from 800 theaters in its second weekend. In China, the sequel has grossed $1.7 billion this month, setting numerous box-office records. Those totals put "Ne Zha 2" past 鈥淚nside Out 2鈥� ($1.66 billion) as the highest grossing animated film ever.
Top 10 movies by domestic box office
With final domestic figures releasing Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.
1. 鈥淐aptain America: Brave New World," $28.2 million.
2. 鈥淭he Monkey,鈥� $14.2 million.
3. 鈥淧addington in Peru,鈥� $6.5 million.
4. 鈥淒og Man,鈥� $5.9 million.
5. 鈥淣e Zha 2,鈥� $3.1 million.
6. 鈥淗eart Eyes,鈥� $2.9 million.
7. 鈥淢ufasa: The Lion King,鈥� $2.5 million.
8. 鈥淭he Unbreakable Boy,鈥� $2.5 million.
9. 鈥淐hhaava,鈥� $1.5 million.
10. 鈥淥ne of Them Days,鈥� $1.4 million.
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This story has been updated to correct the international gross of 鈥淧addington in Peru鈥� to $125 million, instead of $150 million.
Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
