NEW YORK — The recent release of “Captain America: Brave New World” made a strong impression on its first weekend but faced a significant downturn in its second weekend at the box office.
According to early estimates from studios, “Brave New World” garnered $28.2 million during its second weekend, maintaining its position at the top of the box office. However, following a robust debut that brought in $100 million over the four-day holiday period, and $88 million over three days, this week marks a steep 68% decline in ticket sales.
Although it is common for blockbuster films to see significant drops in earnings after their initial weekend, “Brave New World” experienced one of the most drastic declines in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), following only “The Marvels,” which fell by 78%, and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” which saw a 70% drop earlier this year.
Critics have not been kind to the latest installment of “Captain America,” and audience feedback is not much better, with the film receiving a “B-” CinemaScore. Fans had hoped this film would help revive the Marvel franchise, yet it has been viewed as yet another example of the brand struggling to reclaim the strength and dominance it had before “Avengers: Endgame.”
Despite the concern over its performance, “Brave New World” has quickly amassed a total of $289.4 million worldwide, with international sales nearing $150 million. With a lack of major competing releases set to debut in theaters soon, the film has little competition for much of March.
In terms of new releases, Oz Perkins’ “The Monkey” emerged as the top debut of the weekend. The film, which serves as a sequel to Perkins’ successful 2024 horror flick “Longlegs,” opened to $14.2 million for Neon—marking the second-best opening for the independent studio after “Longlegs,” which debuted at $22.4 million.
Neon had many reasons to celebrate over the weekend as it continued to gain recognition for its award contender “Anora,” directed by Sean Baker, which is building momentum leading into the Academy Awards. The film has recently captured additional wins at the Independent Spirit Awards.
The collaboration between Perkins, Neon, and Blumhouse to release “The Monkey” has proven fruitful, with plans for additional projects already underway. Although “The Monkey” might not reach the impressive global earnings of “Longlegs,” which grossed $126.9 million, the team is set to return with a new film titled “Keeper” in October.
The horror feature “The Monkey,” which stars Tatiana Maslany and Theo James, centers around a vintage monkey toy uncovered in an attic. The film has received positive reviews, holding a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, although audience feedback has been mediocre, resulting in a C+ CinemaScore, which is not unusual for horror titles.
Continuing with its marketing strategy, Neon adopted a cryptic approach for “The Monkey,” incorporating some chilling promotional events. A unique funeral-themed premiere took place at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, alongside fan screenings held in a nearby Hollywood cemetery. The production, which had a budget of $10 million, was driven by horror maestro James Wan.
In other box office news, Lionsgate’s “The Unbreakable Boy” struggled in its debut, collecting just $2.5 million from 1,687 theaters. Directed by Jon Gunn, the film stars Zachary Levi and Meghann Fahy, telling the story of a family grappling with their son’s autism and brittle bone disease.
Meanwhile, “Paddington in Peru,” the delightful return of the beloved bear, dropped to third place during its second weekend, earning $6.5 million across 3,890 screens. The film’s total earnings over two weeks now stand at $25.2 million, with a notable international take of $125 million.
The animated film “Ne Zha 2” has also performed tremendously, bringing in $3.1 million across 800 theaters domestically during its second weekend. In China, the sequel has generated an impressive $1.7 billion this month, shattering numerous records and outshining “Inside Out 2,” which previously held the title for highest-grossing animated film at $1.66 billion.
As domestic box office figures are finalized on Monday, here are the top ten movies by ticket sales for the weekend:
1. “Captain America: Brave New World,” $28.2 million.
2. “The Monkey,” $14.2 million.
3. “Paddington in Peru,” $6.5 million.
4. “Dog Man,” $5.9 million.
5. “Ne Zha 2,” $3.1 million.
6. “Heart Eyes,” $2.9 million.
7. “Mufasa: The Lion King,” $2.5 million.
8. “The Unbreakable Boy,” $2.5 million.
9. “Chhaava,” $1.5 million.
10. “One of Them Days,” $1.4 million.
This information has been updated to reflect the corrected international gross of “Paddington in Peru,” which stands at $125 million, not $150 million.