“Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” tops the box office but continues to flounder

Superhero movies are having a true sink or swim moment, with 2018's sequel Aquaman Treading water this week.

The original film also opened the weekend before Christmas, grossing nearly $28 million on its first day, and with an additional $22 million, it became one of the few films to gross over $20 million on Christmas Day. It's usually a slow day for the box office. office.

After five years and countless superhero movies,… Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom It took in $28 million again, this time over a three-day weekend, Comscore reports. With Christmas falling on Monday, the second part of the film, led by Jason Momoa, is expected to make $40 million.

Internationally, Arthur Curry & Co. It performed better, earning $80.1 million for a global opening of $120.1 million.

Directed by James Wan, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Yahya Abdul-Mateen II follows Black Manta as he once again attempts to defeat Momoa's titular submarine. Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, and Amber Heard reprized their roles from the first film, which grossed nearly $1.2 billion, making it the highest-grossing film in the DCEU.

Before the premiere of his new movie, Momoa didn't seem too convinced that he would play Aquaman again, he said Entertainment tonight“The truth is, I mean, if the audience likes it, there's a possibility. But now, I'm like, 'It doesn't look very good.'”

With such box office receipts against the film's reported budget of $205 million, it would probably look a lot worse. DC Studios is also retconning its entire superhero strategy under James Gunn and Peter Safran, but who's to say what it will look like, or whether enough people will care.

while, Wonka It fell to No. 2 in its second week, earning $17.7 million domestically, bringing its year-to-date total to $75.2 million (expected $254.9 as of Monday). Family animated film Immigrationwritten by White lotus Author Mike White opened in third place with $12.3 million and projected four-day earnings of $17.1 million domestically ($34.3 million worldwide).

R-rated rom-com Anyone but youStarring two of Hollywood's leading rising stars, Glen Powell and Sidney Sweeney, it opened in fourth place with a respectable $6.2 million and an expected four-day gross of around $9 million against a $25 million budget.

In the film, Bea (Sweeney) and Ben (Powell) seem like the perfect couple, but after an amazing first date, something happens that turns their fiery attraction icy cold — until they find themselves unexpectedly thrust together at a wedding in Australia. So they do what any two adults would do: pretend they're an item.

Indian import Salar Part 1 – Ceasefire It rounds out the top five with a $5.5 million debut and an expected four-day total of $6.3 million domestic. Internationally, the action drama added another $33.6 million, bringing its global debut to $39.9 million.

Wrestling drama Iron claw, starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson, was smothered by other films this weekend, with a $5.1 million opening and a projected four-day total of $7.5 million — not too bad considering its estimated $20.4 million budget. .

the next, Violet Opens on Christmas Day.

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