Los Angeles was buzzing with excitement as Universal Pictures prepared for a big night at the Academy Awards with their highly anticipated film, “Oppenheimer.” But that wasn’t the only reason for celebration at the studio. The fourth installment of the beloved DreamWorks Animation franchise, “Kung Fu Panda 4,” made its debut over the weekend and took the top spot at the box office with an impressive $58.3 million in domestic theaters, according to estimates on Sunday.
This latest addition to the “Kung Fu Panda” series, which follows the adventures of Jack Black’s lovable panda warrior Po, had a better opening weekend than all but the original film in 2008. With families eager for a new blockbuster since the holiday releases in December, “Kung Fu Panda 4” also added an additional $22 million in international markets.
But it wasn’t just the new releases that were making waves at the box office. Last week’s top film, “Dune: Part Two,” continued to hold strong in its second week, dropping only 44% and grossing an impressive $46 million. The sci-fi epic sequel, directed by Denis Villeneuve, has received rave reviews and word-of-mouth, making it a strong contender for a long theatrical run. With most of the Oscar nominees already available on streaming platforms, “Dune” could potentially be a dark horse at next year’s Academy Awards.
In third place was the horror film “Imaginary,” released by Lionsgate and Blumhouse, which debuted with $10 million. This creepy tale about a sinister teddy bear was a hit with audiences looking for a good scare.
Following closely behind was “Cabrini,” a biographical film about the 19th century Catholic missionary Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, played by Cristiana Dell’Anna. The film, distributed by the Christian-based company Angel Studios, the same studio behind the 2023 surprise hit “Sound of Freedom,” collected $7.5 million in its opening weekend.
A24 also had a successful debut with their critically acclaimed neo-noir film, “Love Lies Bleeding,” starring Kristen Stewart. The film, which premiered on five screens in New York and Los Angeles, brought in $167,463 with an impressive per-screen average of $33,493.
Overall, it was a successful weekend at the box office with a diverse range of films attracting audiences. Here is a breakdown of the estimated ticket sales for the top 10 films in the U.S. and Canada, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released on Monday.
1. “Kung Fu Panda 4,” $58.3 million.
2. “Dune: Part Two,” $46 million.
3. “Imaginary,” $10 million.
4. “Cabrini,” $7.6 million.
5. “Bob Marley: One Love,” $4.1 million.
6. “Ordinary Angels,” $2 million.
7. “Madame Web,” $1.1 million.
8. “Migration,” $1.1 million.
9. “YOLO,” $840,000.
10. MET Opera: “La Forza del Destino,” $768,000.
With the success of “Kung Fu Panda 4” and “Dune: Part Two,” it’s clear that audiences are eager to return to theaters for a thrilling and entertaining movie experience. The strong performances of these films also show the power of great storytelling and the importance of diverse representation in Hollywood.
As we look ahead to the upcoming releases, it’s clear that there is no shortage of exciting and highly anticipated films to look forward to. But for now, let’s celebrate the success of “Kung Fu Panda 4” and “Dune: Part Two” and continue to support the film industry as it bounces back from the challenges of the past year.
