The latest installment in the 'Ghostbusters' franchise, titled 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,' made a strong debut at the North American box office, raking in $16 million on its opening day from Friday and preview screenings in 4,345 theaters. This figure is almost on par with its predecessor, 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife,' which earned $16.6 million on its opening day in November 2021.
Sony's sci-fi comedy sequel is expected to dominate the domestic box office, although it faces the challenge of recouping its $100 million production budget, a significant increase from the $75 million budget of 'Afterlife.' Despite lukewarm reviews compared to its predecessor, 'Frozen Empire' has the potential to perform well, especially with the upcoming Easter holiday at the end of the month.
The film features a star-studded cast including Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, and McKenna Grace, along with original '80s stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and William Atherton reprising their roles. Directed by Gil Kenan, the story follows the ghostbusting team as they navigate a mysteriously frozen New York City.
Meanwhile, the horror film 'Immaculate,' released by indie banner Neon in 2,354 locations, is projected to secure a fourth-place opening with around $5 million in ticket sales over the weekend. Despite positive reviews, immediate audience feedback has been mixed, reflected in a Cinema Score grade of C.
In the competitive box office landscape, 'Dune: Part Two' is expected to maintain its second-place position, with a strong hold on ticket sales. The sequel is on track to surpass $230 million in domestic gross, despite facing competition from new releases like 'Frozen Empire' and 'Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire.'
Universal's 'Kung Fu Panda 4' is projected to secure the third spot, with an estimated $14.5 million in weekend earnings, showcasing a solid hold in the face of new family-friendly competition. DreamWorks Animation's sequel is set to surpass the domestic gross of its predecessor, 'Kung Fu Panda 3.'
Rounding out the top five is Lionsgate's 'Arthur the King,' starring Mark Wahlberg, which earned $1.1 million on Friday. Despite a soft opening, the film is expected to reach a total of over $14 million in its first 10 days, a decent outcome considering its modest $19 million production budget.
