The latest installment in the "Ghostbusters" franchise, titled "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire," topped the box office charts over the weekend, raking in $45.2 million in ticket sales. This marks Sony Pictures' first No. 1 film since last summer. The opening weekend for "Frozen Empire" was on par with its predecessor, "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," which debuted with $44 million in 2021.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, both "Frozen Empire" and "Afterlife" have been well-received by audiences. "Frozen Empire" received a B+ CinemaScore from moviegoers, slightly lower than the A- score for "Afterlife." The film is hoping for sustained business over the upcoming spring break to potentially turn a profit.
Internationally, "Ghostbusters" films have historically had limited success, with "Frozen Empire" bringing in $16.4 million in 25 overseas markets. The latest installment had a production budget of around $100 million and was directed by Gil Kenan, co-writer of "Afterlife."
In addition to "Frozen Empire," the weekend saw the release of "Immaculate," a horror film starring Sydney Sweeney. Despite Sweeney's popularity, the film debuted with $5.4 million, falling short of expectations. According to industry experts, horror films are driven by the hook or concept, rather than star power.
Rounding out the top three at the box office were "Dune: Part Two" in second place with $17.6 million and "Kung Fu Panda 4" in third place with $16.8 million. "Dune: Part Two" has been performing well both domestically and internationally, with a worldwide total of $574.4 million.
Overall, the box office landscape continues to be diverse with a mix of sequels, horror films, and animated features captivating audiences. Final domestic figures for the weekend will be released on Monday.