NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� extended its box-office reign in its second week of release with $67 million in ticket sales over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday, while 鈥淪he Said,鈥� about the journalistic investigation into Harvey Weinstein, struggled in wide release.
After , Ryan Coogler's 鈥淏lack Panther鈥� sequel slid 63% in its second frame. On its way to more than $1.3 billion in ticket sales, the original 鈥淏lack Panther" held unusually well, dipping only 44.7% in its second weekend in 2018. But most recent Marvel releases have seen similar or slightly worse declines. 鈥淭hor: Love and Thunder,鈥� 鈥淪pider-Man: No Way Home" and 鈥淏lack Widow鈥� all declined 68% on their second weekend.
鈥淲akanda Forever,鈥� , stars Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett and Tenoch Huerta. It has amassed $546 million globally thus far, and should continue to drive sales over the upcoming Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend.
The week's top new release was the Searchlight Pictures high-cuisine satire starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes, who plays a vengeful celebrity chef. 鈥淭he Menu,鈥� grossed $9 million in 3,100 venues. With a 90% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is drawing enough Taylor-Joy fans to outpace most edgier arthouse fare.
Universal's flopped with $2.3 million in 2,022 theaters. The film, starring Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan as New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, served as Hollywood's own big-screen treatment of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's downfall. Critics called 鈥淪he Said,鈥� which in October, a and audiences gave it an 鈥淎鈥� CinemaScore. Box-office expectations were never particularly high for the $30 million film, directed by Maria Schrader, but it was widely applauded for its tackling of the infamous #MeToo scandal.
Weinstein's attorneys that his Los Angeles trial should have been postponed because of the release of 鈥淪he Said.鈥� A judge ruled against it. Weinstein is being tried for the alleged rape of two women and sexually assaulting two others. On Thursday, after nearly four weeks of testimony from 44 witnesses.
The weekend's biggest surprise came from a crowdfunded streaming series about the life of Jesus. The distributed by Fathom Events, collected $8.2 million in 2,009 theaters. Fathom Events is owned by AMC Theatres, Cinemark Theatres, and Regal Cinemas, and specializes in alternative programming in brief theatrical runs. In 鈥淭he Chosen,鈥� Fathom found a sizable audience in the religious series. Fathom last year also distributed 鈥淐hristmas with the Chosen: The Messengers,鈥� which, with $13 million, ranks as the distributor's biggest hit.
Luca Guadagnino's 鈥淏ones and All,鈥� , debuted in five theaters before expanding nationwide on Wednesday. opened with $120,000, giving it a $23,983 per-screen average. Also launching in five New York and Los Angeles locations was , 鈥淭he Inspection,鈥� about his enlisting in the Marines during the 鈥淒on't ask, don't tell鈥� era. The A24 release landed a per-screen average of $13,188.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," $67.3 million.
2. 鈥淭he Menu,鈥� $9 million.
3. 鈥淭he Chosen,鈥� $8.2 million.
4. 鈥淏lack Adam,鈥� $4.5 million.
5. 鈥淭icket to Paradise,鈥� $3.2 million.
6. 鈥淪he Said,鈥� $2.3 million.
7. 鈥淟yle, Lyle Crocodile,鈥� $1.9 million.
8. 鈥淪mile,鈥� $1.2 million.
9. 鈥淒rishyam 2,鈥� $1 million.
10. 鈥淧rey for the Devil,鈥� $935,000.
___
Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
