Sequel Scores Huge Debut – Variety

Sony

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” webbed up a stellar $120.5 million in its domestic box office debut. In beating expectations, it landed the second-biggest opening weekend of the year, behind only “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” with $146 million, as well as the third-biggest opening weekend for any “Spider-Man” film.

Sony’s animated sequel is benefitting from great reviews and positive word-of-mouth, as well as goodwill from its predecessor, 2018’s Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” Initial ticket sales were significantly higher than the first film, which introduced audiences to Miles Morales and the idea that “anyone can wear the mask” and opened to just $35.5 million. But it stuck around in theaters for a while, ending its big-screen run with $190 million in North America and $384 million globally.

“This is an exceptionally good opening for an animation follow-up sequel,” says David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. “Spider-Verse took a well-liked superhero, gave the storytelling an original visual style and voice, and created a unique experience.”

Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson directed “Across the Spider-Verse,” which cost $100 million. The story follows Miles and Gwen Stacy (a.k.a. Spider-Woman) as they attempt to save their fellow Spider People from the villain who goes by the name the Spot. Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld returned to voice Miles and Gwen, while the rest of the voice cast includes Brian Tyree Henry, Issa Rae, Jason Schwartzman, Daniel Kaluuya and Oscar Isaac. Audiences awarded the film an “A” CinemaScore while critics bestowed it with a 95% average on Rotten Tomatoes. Other than Disney’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” it’s been a minute since a superhero movie has received that kind of praise.

“Across the Spider-Verse” took the No. 1 spot, but it wasn’t the only newcomer to box office charts. Disney and 20th Century’s “The Boogeyman,” adapted from Stephen King’s short story of the same name, opened in third place with $11 million from 3,205 theaters.

The movie, which arrived slightly behind expectations, was originally slated to debut on Hulu and cost a modest $35 million to produce. Critics and audiences were mixed on “The Boogeyman,” starring “Yellowjackets” actor Sophie Thatcher and Chris Messina. It holds a 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and earned a “B-” CinemaScore.

Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” remake, starring Halle Bailey as Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, slid to the No. 2 spot with $40.6 million from 4,320 venues in its second weekend of release. That’s a 57% decline from its debut. So far, “The Little Mermaid” has grossed $186 million in North America.

Disney accounted for three movies in the top five, as Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” took fourth place with $10.2 million. To date, the superhero threequel has generated $332 million domestically.

Universal’s “Fast X” rounded out the top five, adding $9.2 million from 3,467 locations in its third outing. It’s generated $128 million at the domestic box office, which isn’t that promising for a blockbuster of its size. However, it’s fared far better at the international box office and has crossed $600 million globally.

More to come…