After the successful debut of “Dune: Part Two” last weekend, the box office momentum continues with Universal/DreamWorks’ “Kung Fu Panda 4” drawing families to theaters with a $55 million opening weekend.
Although it falls short of the $60 million opening from the original “Kung Fu Panda” in 2008 before adjusting for inflation, it surpasses the $41.2 million debut of the third installment in 2016.
Universal is counting on the animated movie to have a long run over the upcoming weeks as kids enjoy their spring breaks. With no major animated releases until “The Garfield Movie” over Memorial Day weekend, “Kung Fu Panda 4” will face limited direct competition in the spring. The film has received positive feedback, with an A- on CinemaScore and Rotten Tomatoes ratings of 69% from critics and 86% from the audience.
“Dune: Part Two” takes second place, expecting a strong second weekend with an estimated $43.5 million. This represents only a 47% drop from its $82 million opening and exceeds the $41 million opening of the first “Dune” in 2021.
Benefiting from positive word-of-mouth and lack of major competition for general audiences, “Dune: Part Two” is also capitalizing on high demand for Imax and other premium screenings, contributing to its sustained success as some moviegoers wait for convenient showtimes. The film is projected to reach a domestic total of $154.5 million in 10 days, quickly surpassing the $108.8 million earned by its predecessor in the first week of release.
Lionsgate/Blumhouse's horror film “Imaginary” secures the third spot, earning $3.6 million from 3,118 theaters and heading for an opening of $9.5 million, slightly below the projected $10 million. Reception for the film has been lukewarm, with a C+ CinemaScore and a 31% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Blumhouse's cost-effective approach should enable the film to recoup its investment.
More updates to follow…
