In North America, the Michael Jackson biopic titled Michael made a notable comeback at the box office, reclaiming the number one spot. The film accrued $26.1 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates.
The Lionsgate project is in an elite category, having generated $703.9 million globally and still increasing. However, Michael has yet to surpass Bohemian Rhapsody, which remains the leader among musical biopics with over $910.8 million worldwide.
This weekend presented several new releases, including the horror film Obsession, Guy Ritchie’s action film In the Grey, and the revenge story Is God Is. Despite the fresh entries, existing films continued to attract the largest audiences.
Anticipation for a shift in dynamics is rising with the release of Disney and 20th Century Studios’ Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu next weekend.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Other Box Office Performances
The Devil Wears Prada 2 held its second place position, earning $18 million in its third weekend. This brings its domestic total to $175.9 million and a global total of $546.2 million.
Among the newcomers, Obsession achieved the top spot by surpassing expectations with $16.1 million from 2,615 theaters. Directed by YouTube entity Curry Barker, the thriller about a romantic infatuation won both critical acclaim (94% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audience praise (A- CinemaScore). Notably, Barker produced this movie with only $750,000, while Focus Features acquired it for around $15 million after the Toronto International Film Festival.
Lisa Bunnell, head of domestic distribution at Focus Features, suggested that the success of Obsession reflects audiences’ desire for new, original cinematic voices. The film benefits from positive word-of-mouth, with younger viewers planning return visits with friends. Achieving a high CinemaScore like Obsession’s is uncommon for horror films, aligning with another recent hit titled Weapons.
In fourth place at the box office, Mortal Kombat II dropped significantly by 65%, collecting $13.4 million domestically. Its global earnings are $101.2 million from 80 markets.
Amazon MGM Studios boasted three films in the top ten: The Sheep Detectives in fifth, Project Hail Mary in seventh, and Is God Is completing the list. The Sheep Detectives saw a 33% decrease from its debut weekend, adding $10.2 million and totaling $30.5 million. Project Hail Mary, now available for rental or purchase at home, gathered another $3.4 million in its ninth weekend.
Is God Is, based on Aleshea Harris’s award-winning play about twin sisters on a mission to kill their abusive father, earned $2.2 million in its inaugural weekend with a 97% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes.
In the Grey, distributed by Black Bear, took in $3 million from 2,018 locations. Featuring actors Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Eiza González, the movie follows elite operatives on a challenging task. Its Rotten Tomatoes rating stands at 44%, with a B CinemaScore.
Numerous re-releases made their appearance in theaters, including Top Gun and Shrek. Top Gun grossed $3.1 million, while Shrek gathered $1.3 million.
Top 10 Domestic Box Office
According to Comscore, the following are the estimated ticket sales from Friday to Sunday at theaters in the U.S. and Canada:
- Michael: $26.1 million
- The Devil Wears Prada 2: $18 million
- Obsession: $16.1 million
- Mortal Kombat II: $13.4 million
- The Sheep Detectives: $9.3 million
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie: $4.5 million
- Project Hail Mary: $3.9 million
- Top Gun 40th Anniversary: $3.1 million
- In the Grey: $3 million
- Is God Is: $2.2 million