Warner Bros./DC Studios’ “Black Adam”The second weekend was a good one. Industry estimates predict a $24.5 million weekend result, and a domestic total for the 10 days of $108 millions.
Long-term, the prognosis is mixed for Dwayne Johnson’s DC film as its domestic run takes a path similar to the star’s “Fast & Furious”spinoff “Hobbs & Shaw,” which also had a 10-day total of $108 million, and last year’s Marvel film “Eternals,”This had a total 10-day of $118 millions
While par for the course for both Johnson and recent superhero films with lesser-known characters, it’s still unclear whether this will be enough for Warner Bros. and DC Studios to greenlight a sequel to “Black Adam”As they plan a new course, the incoming DC heads James Gunn & Peter Safran are there. While Johnson’s star power has drawn interest that might not otherwise have come for this title, this second weekend is more reflective of the film’s B+ CinemaScore rather than the 88% audience Rotten Tomatoes score that Johnson has Featured on social media
Meanwhile, Universal’s romantic comedy “Ticket to Paradise”The film is showing stronger hold relative to its budget level and genre, with an estimated $10.3million second week. It now has a total of $34M for the 10-days. The George Clooney/Julia Roberts movie has dropped only 37% from its $16million opening weekend. This gives hope that the film will continue to legging out into November, as blockbuster counterprogramming.
A trio of horror films completes the Top 5, starting with Lionsgate’s “Prey for the Devil”With $2.8 million grossing Friday and an estimated $7million opening weekend from 2,980 theatres, meeting studios and independent projections, the film earned $2.8 million. Lionsgate is banking on the low-budget horror film getting attention from teens thanks to its PG-13 rating, which puts it apart from its R-rated competition, Paramount’s “Smile” and Universal/Blumhouse’s “Halloween Ends.”
Audiences clearly voted for these two holdovers “Smile”It leads over “Ends”On the charts, despite being in theaters for only two weeks. “Smile”It is expected to make $5 million its fifth weekend, surpassing the domestic total of $92 million. “The Black Phone.” “Halloween Ends,”The production plummets to $3.7million in its third weekend due to bad word-of mouth and limited availability on Peacock, which reduces its theatrical potential.