April 11, 2024
-3-News.jpg "Theater counts: Civil War looks to unseat Godzilla x Kong")
For the past two weeks Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire has enjoyed a prime seat atop the box office charts, racking up $140 million from North American ticket sales in its first 13-days. This week, however, will present the biggest test to date for the iconic movie monsters as dystopian action-thriller Civil War arrives in cinemas.
Directed by Alex Garland, Civil War follows a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach Washington D.C. before rebel factions penetrate the White House. The movie contains an impressive line-up of Hollywood talent including Kirsten Dunst, Nick Offerman, and Cailee Spaeny, among others, leading the ensemble cast. A24 is releasing Civil War on both traditional large formats as well as IMAX locations. The film will begin its run in 3,838 locations.
Also making its debut this week is the Australian horror feature Sting. Directed by Kiah Roache-Turner the film follows a 12-year old girl whose pet spider transforms into a giant flesh-eating monster, forcing her to fight for her family’s survival. While a specific theater count has yet to be reported, we understand the film will open in over 900 theaters.
Arcadian, Nicolas Cage’s latest offering, is set to open in 1,100 theaters this week. The film follows a father and his twin teenage sons who must fight to survive in a remote farmhouse at the end of the world.
Coming back to theaters this weekend for its 20th anniversary is Shrek 2. The film, which is nearing $1 billion in worldwide revenue, will be available in 1,489 theaters throughout North America.
Rounding out the top five this week is the aforementioned reigning champ, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire dropping 101 theaters this week for a total of 3,847 locations. Next up is last week’s newcomer The First Omen, retaining its opening count of 3,375 movie houses. Still humming along is Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, and Kung Fu Panda 4, coming in this week with 3,350 and 3,101 theaters respectively.
Looking ahead to next week we see a plethora of new films hitting theaters for the first time. These include vampire horror feature Abigail, Japanese animated action comedy, Spy x Family Code: White, and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Lionsgate estimates the latter will open in approximately 2,600 venues.
| Movie | Distributor | Theaters | Previous Theaters |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire | Warner Bros. | 3,847 | 3,948 | -101 |
| Civil War | A24 | 3,838 | new | |
| The First Omen | 20th Century Studios | 3,375 | 3,375 | |
| Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire | Sony Pictures | 3,350 | 3,835 | -485 |
| Kung Fu Panda 4 | Universal Pictures | 3,101 | 3,398 | -297 |
| Monkey Man | Universal Pictures | 3,037 | 3,029 | +8 |
| Dune: Part Two | Warner Bros. | 2,401 | 2,836 | -435 |
| Shrek 2 | Universal Pictures | 1,489 | ||
| Arthur The King | Lionsgate | 1,188 | 1,704 | -516 |
| Arcadian | IFC Films | 1,100 | New | |
| Sting | Well Go USA | 900 | New | |
| Imaginary | Lionsgate | 405 | 924 | -519 |
| One Life | Bleecker Street | 193 | 275 | -82 |
| YOLO | Sony Pictures | 175 | 14 | +161 |
| The Absence of Eden | Roadside Attractions | 110 | New | |
| Bob Marley: One Love | Paramount Pictures | 81 | 234 | -153 |
| Housekeeping for Beginners | Focus Features | 75 | 4 | +71 |
| Sasquatch Sunset | Bleecker Street | 9 | New | |
| Accidental Texan | Roadside Attractions | 5 | 9 | -4 |
| The Monk and the Gun | Roadside Attractions | 2 | 5 | -3 |
Filed under: Theater Counts, Shrek, MonsterVerse, Nicolas Cage, Kirsten Dunst, Nick Offerman, Kiah Roache-Turner, Cailee Spaeny