In its second week of release, Alex Garland's film "Civil War" retained its position as the top film in theaters, earning $11.1 million at 3,929 theaters over the weekend. The dystopian American movie, produced by indie studio A24, has garnered a total of $44.9 million in two weeks. The film's premise, set in a near-future U.S. where Texas and California rebel against a fascist president, has captivated audiences and kept it at the forefront of moviegoers' minds.
However, the overall box office performance for Hollywood has been lackluster, with year-to-date ticket sales down almost 20% compared to the previous year. Universal Pictures' "Abigail," a horror film about Dracula's daughter, was expected to lead ticket sales but came in second with $10.2 million in 3,384 theaters. Despite this, the film, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, has been well-received by critics.
Several new wide releases struggled to make an impact, pointing to potential challenges for the industry in the future. Guy Ritchie's "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare" debuted with $9 million in 2,845 theaters, while the anime "Spy x Family Code: White" underperformed with $4.9 million in 2,009 U.S. theaters. On a positive note, the Warner Bros. monster movie "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" continues to dominate the global box office, earning $9.5 million domestically and $21.6 million internationally over the weekend.
Overall, the weekend box office results reflect a mixed landscape for the film industry, with some films exceeding expectations while others struggle to find their audience. As final domestic figures are awaited, it remains to be seen how Hollywood will navigate the challenges posed by changing audience preferences and market trends.