Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Tops Weekend Box Office with $45.2 Million Debut

Securing its place at the pinnacle of the box office rankings over the past weekend was the long-anticipated blockbuster “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”. The film, another addition to the vaunted “Ghostbusters” franchise by Sony Pictures, raked in an impressive $45.2 million, per studio estimates delivered on Sunday. This lucrative launch marks Sony’s first triumph at the top of the box office charts since the summer season last year.

Hitting a total of 4,345 theaters, the opening of “Frozen Empire” mimicked almost exactly the previous iteration, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”, which was warmly greeted with a $44 million welcome at its launch in 2021. “Afterlife” breathed new life into the storied franchise, bringing forward a sequel ingeniously centered around the descendants of Harold Ramis’ iconic character, Egon Spengler, complete with a star-studded cast including notable actors like Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace and the charismatic Paul Rudd.

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Despite failing to charm movie critics, both of these sequels found appeal among the audiences, with “Frozen Empire” securing a favorable B+ CinemaScore. This rating nudged slightly lower than the previous installment, “Afterlife”, that had scored an A-. The robust support from audiences fuels hopes of “Frozen Empire” turning a profit and promises sustained business amidst the festive atmosphere of the upcoming spring break.

The “Ghostbusters” series, while a cultural phenomenon, has often seen a glimpse of struggle in overseas markets. In about 25 international territories, “Frozen Empire” managed to snag a decent $16.4 million.

With a production budget close to $100 million, “Frozen Empire” broke new ground. The directorial baton of the franchise was passed from Jason Reitman, the acclaimed director of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” to Gil Kenan, its accomplished co-writer. The latest sequels from Sony steered the franchise towards a more wholesome, family-oriented theme though maintaining its PG-13 rating, while carefully blending in original cast members such as Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Bill Murray in supporting roles.

Another headline grabber for the weekend was “Immaculate,” a horror flick set in an eerie Italian convent featuring Sydney Sweeney. Despite the singular performance and growing star power of Sweeney, the movie grossed a modest $5.4 million at its opening.

Rounding off the box office leaderboard was the powerful sci-fi sequel “Dune: Part Two”, retaining its formidable hold at the No. 2 spot with a weekend collection of $17. 6 million. Its successful run throughout the fourth weekend of release has bolstered the Warner Bros. film’s domestic totals to an impressive $233.4 million. Proving its universal appeal, the movie’s international ticket sales contributed an additional $574.4 million to its global standing.

Towards the end of the reign, “Kung Fu Panda 4,” slipped to the third position with $16.8 million collected over its third weekend stint. The animated sequel by DreamWorks continues to delight fans and critics and has amassed a total of $133.2 million stateside. Undeniably, the “Kung Fu Panda” series found a favorable market in China, where it opened with a robust $25.7 million. The success of the 2008 release inspired an upswing in local film production, further reflecting China’s growing influence in the cinematic world.

Official domestic figures on ticket sales, covering the last weekend in both the U.S. and Canada, are expected to be finalized and shared come Monday. Box office revenues point to yet another thrilling weekend at the cinemas, fueling audiences’ undying love for the art of storytelling.