LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� 鈥淐andyman鈥� hooked the top spot at the North American box office.
The Universal Pictures film starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II impressively pulled in more than $22.3 million through a quiet weekend despite concerns over the delta variant. The , delves into an urban legend that believes if someone repeats 鈥淐andyman鈥� five times in front of a mirror, that person would summon the hook-handed killer.
The sequel is a follow up to the original 鈥淐andyman鈥� in 1992. The new film expects to gross $5.23 million in 51 international markets.
鈥淚t was a quiet weekend, but it was another check mark in the success column for horror,鈥� Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore.
鈥淐andyman鈥� claimed No. 1 over second place 鈥淔ree Guy,鈥� which scored first place at the box office the previous two weekends. The action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds as a background character in a video game, earned more than $13.5 million.
After 鈥淔ree Guy,鈥� the numbers begin to substantially drop.
Dergarabedian said consumers are being very selective in what they do outside of their homes, particularly when it comes to heading into theaters.
鈥淲hen you have brand new movies, if they are of a genre that people love like horror or have star like Ryan Reynolds and a movie that鈥檚 perceived to be great, people want to go out to see them,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he other films that are either available on streaming and/or not getting the greatest buzz or reviews are going to drop by the wayside. It鈥檚 just the nature of this marketplace.鈥�
In third place, 鈥淧AW Patrol鈥� reeled in $6.6 million 鈥� a 50% dip from the film鈥檚 opening weekend number. The Paramount film, based on the popular kids TV show, has garnered more than $24 million.
鈥淛ungle Cruise鈥� placed fourth with $5 million, helping the Disney action-adventure film starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt eclipse the $100 million mark in North America during a five-week span.
鈥淒on鈥檛 Breathe 2鈥� earned $2.8 million, 鈥淩espect鈥� starring Jennifer Hudson brought in $2.2 million and 鈥淭he Suicide Squad鈥� tallied just over $2 million.
Meanwhile, 鈥淭he Protege鈥� with Michael Keaton and Maggie Q pulled in $1.6 million and 鈥淭he Night House鈥� had $1.2 million.
鈥淏lack Widow鈥� barely held onto the 10th spot with $855,000. In eight weeks, the Marvel film starring Scarlett Johansson has accumulated more than $181.5 million in North America.
Dergarabedian believes the box office could experience some growing pains in the coming weeks.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to have a very top-heavy box office and particularly for films that are available on streaming,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f they鈥檙e not totally buzzworthy, then people will just stay at home and check them out there.
"If those movies at the top are generating great word of mouth and goodwill with audiences toward going to the movie theater, that鈥檚 good for the business long term,鈥� Dergarabedian said.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. 鈥淐andyman,鈥� $22.3 million ($5.2 million international).
2. 鈥淔ree Guy,鈥� $13.5 million ($37.3 million international).
3. 鈥淧AW Patrol,鈥� $6.6 million ($10.3 million international).
4. 鈥淛ungle Cruise,鈥� $5 million ($2.7 million international).
5. 鈥淒on't Breathe 2,鈥� $2.8 million ($1.6 million international).
6. 鈥淩espect,鈥� $2.2 million.
7. 鈥淭he Suicide Squad,鈥� $2 million ($4.6 million international).
8. 鈥淭he Protege,鈥� $1,6 million.
9. 鈥淭he Night House,鈥� $1.2 million.
10. 鈥淏lack Widow,鈥� $855,000.
Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press
