Halloween Ends starts strong, topping North America box office

Halloween Ends took in an estimated US$41.3 million over the weekend. PHOTO: UIP
Halloween Ends again stars Jamie Lee Curtis in a tale replete with throat-slashing and a mysterious masked sewer-dweller. PHOTO: UIP

LOS ANGELES – Universal scarefest Halloween Ends scored a strong start over the weekend, topping the North American box office with an estimated take of US$41.3 million (S$59 million), industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported on Sunday.

The movie, ostensibly the last in a long string of profitable Halloween films (1978 to present), again stars Jamie Lee Curtis, 63, in a tale replete with throat-slashing, choking, fatal falls and a mysterious masked sewer-dweller.

Analysts had predicted a somewhat higher number: US$50 million or so. But given the film’s simultaneous release on the Peacock streaming service and its production cost of just US$30 million, its take was “excellent”, said Mr David Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.

The weeks before Halloween always smile on horror films – and over the weekend, another gruesome film, Paramount’s Smile, placed second at US$12.4 million. Sosie Bacon stars as a therapist whose grasp on reality is shaken by a horrifying event.

In third place for the Friday-to-Sunday period, down one spot from its release previous weekend, was Sony’s live action computer-animated musical comedy Lyle, Lyle Crocodile, at US$7.4 million. Javier Bardem, Shawn Mendes and Constance Wu star.

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Another Sony film, history-inspired The Woman King, held tight at fourth place, with US$3.7 million in ticket sales. Viola Davis stars as the leader of an all-female army of African warriors.

And in fifth, dropping two spots, was 20th Century’s comedy thriller Amsterdam, at US$2.9 million. It stars Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington.

Rounding out the top 10 were Don’t Worry Darling (US$2.2 million), Barbarian (US$1.4 million), Bros (US$920,000), Terrifier 2 (US$850,000) and Top Gun: Maverick (US$685,000). AFP

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