Welcome Back to the Box Office: Disney Dominates Again
It was a quiet weekend at the box office, with familiar favorites holding onto the top spots as new releases struggled to make an impact. The Walt Disney Co., which owns 20th Century Studios, continued its winning streak, claiming the top two spots on the charts and seeing its hit film “Inside Out 2” maintain its position for the 11th consecutive weekend.
In a surprising twist, “Deadpool & Wolverine” reclaimed the number one spot at the North American box office in its fifth weekend, bringing in an impressive $18.3 million. The film has now crossed the $1.2 billion mark internationally, solidifying its status as a box office powerhouse.
Disney’s “Alien: Romulus” followed closely behind, earning $16.2 million in its second weekend. The latest installment in the iconic franchise had a strong opening and continues to perform well at the box office. Meanwhile, “Inside Out 2” added $2.1 million to its domestic earnings, pushing its global total past $1.6 billion.
With Disney’s resurgence at the box office, industry experts are hailing this as a major comeback year for the entertainment giant. Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst for Comscore, noted, “This is an incredible turnaround for Disney, who almost fell off the radar last year. They have delivered several billion-dollar films already, with ‘Moana 2’ on the horizon. This is definitely Disney’s year to shine.”
Despite the dominance of holdover films, there were a few notable newcomers in the lineup. Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, “Blink Twice,” starring Channing Tatum, opened to $7.3 million and secured the fourth spot on the charts. The psychological thriller has garnered mixed reviews but has been praised for its suspenseful storyline.
Rounding out the top five was “The Forge,” a faith-focused coming-of-age film that resonated with audiences, earning an A+ CinemaScore. The movie tells the story of a young man navigating his faith, and its message has struck a chord with viewers.
Other new releases, such as “The Crow,” struggled to find their footing amidst the crowded marketplace, with established films like “Twisters” and “Coraline” outperforming the newcomers. However, as the Labor Day holiday approaches, there is hope that word-of-mouth will help boost the box office performance of these films.
As the summer movie season winds down, it’s clear that Disney’s domination at the box office is far from over. With a lineup of blockbuster hits and highly anticipated releases on the horizon, the House of Mouse is poised to continue its winning streak in the weeks and months to come.
