A musical biopic about the King of Pop reclaimed the box-office crown this weekend. Michael moonwalked past all his would-be usurpers and settled into the golden throne, earning an estimated $26.1 million in North America over the three-day frame. During an unsettled theatrical weekend, that was more than enough to reclaim victory.
Michael has now earned $282.8 million domestically. Overseas it’s done even better, making off with $421.1 million like a smooth criminal. That pushes Michael’s worldwide gross to a very tidy $703.9 million. For distributor Lionsgate, that’s a thriller indeed.
Two-time box-office champ The Devil Wears Prada 2 teetered a bit on its stiletto, box-office heels, sinking to No. 2 with $18 million. That’s nearly a 57% weekend-over-weekend drop for the comedy. Still, don’t feel too sad for Miranda Priestly and company: Prada 2 has speared $175.9 million with those stiletto heels stateside and $546.2 million worldwide.
When is a third-place finish considered a huge win? When you’re a low-budget horror film, of course. Obsession is the latest such example. The creepy, messy fright flick earned $16.1 million—more than double what most experts thought it would earn. Throw in the $7 million Obsession earned overseas, and the movie’s total tally stands at $23.1 million. Not much, you say? Well, keep in mind that Obsession’s budget was—are you sitting down?—just about $1 million. Now, I’m no math whiz, but that sure looks like Obsession has already earned 23 times what it cost to make (not counting marketing costs and whatnot). Outside making an ill-advised wish with a One Wish Willow, it’s hard to imagine a more lucrative return on one’s investment.
Mortal Kombat II earned $13.4 million stateside, slipping from second place to fourth. Meanwhile, The Sheep Detectives earned $9.3 million, holding onto a place in the box office’s top five. And that’s no wool.
A bevy of also-ran newcomers pepper the box-office stat sheets. In the Grey (which, contrary to rumor, is not about my beard) earned just a hair over $3 million to finish ninth, just behind the re-release of the twin-billed Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick (eighth place, $3.1 million). Is God Iscollected about $2.2 million to land like a sock-draped rock in 10th place.
Meanwhile, the anime film Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe finished in unlucky 13th with $810,000. As the titles get longer, the box office returns get smaller, it seems.
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