’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ starts with $29m at global box office; ‘Avatar: Fire And Ash’ passes $1.3bn

Credit: Comscore. All figures are estimates.

Bone to be wild

Sony’s 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple ratcheted up a $29.2m weekend, from its opening weekend in 61 territories at the global box office.

The film made $16.2m internationally and $13m in North America, from over 10,000 screens in total, according to latest estimates. Its $29.2m total was enough for fourth place in the global chart.

The UK and Ireland led the way in international markets with a $4.6m total, followed by Mexico with $1.5m and Australia with $1m.

It was down on the $60m start of 28 Years Later from June last year, that was split 50-50 between international and North America. The Bone Temple did receive a higher 18 rating in UK-Ireland compared to the 15 given to its predecessor, which may have put a slight limit on its audience figures.

Continuing the story of post-zombie takeover England, The Bone Temple sees young Spike inducted into Jimmy Crystal’s violent gang; as the enigmatic Dr Kelson makes a significant discovery. The film is directed by Nia DaCosta from a screenplay by Alex Garland, and stars Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams and Erin Kellyman.

Markets to come include Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina on January 22; and South Korea on January 31.

Billionaires club

Disney duo Avatar: Fire And Ash and Zootopia 2 both crossed new milestones on their fifth and eighth weekends respectively at the global box office.

James Cameron’s Fire And Ash topped the global chart for a fifth successive weekend, adding $57.8m on its latest session according to estimates – a 33% drop on the previous weekend. It is the first title to top the global box office chart for five consecutive weekends since franchise predecessor Avatar: The Way Of Water in 2022-2023.

The blockbuster made $44.5m from international markets and $13.3m from North America, now playing in 53 territories.

This took it past the $1.3bn mark, comprised of $955.3m international and $363.5m in North America.

While it will finish down on the $2.9bn of Avatar and $2.3bn of The Way Of Water, it has still broken into the top 25 highest-grossing films of all time, and will make at least the top 20 before the end of its run.

Fire And Ash also remains the leading Imax title, adding $10.1m on the latest four-day session to hit a $173.3m total from the format, as the sixth-biggest Imax release ever.

Zootopia 2 hit multiple milestones, most prominent of which was becoming the highest-grossing MPA global animated release of all time, ahead of Inside Out 2.

The film added $33.1m on its eighth session to cross the $1.7bn mark, with $24.3m international and $8.8m in North America, from 53 total markets.

It now has $1.3bn from international territories and $390m from North America. The $1.7bn figure makes it the ninth-highest-grossing film of all time, overtaking Inside Out 2, Jurassic World ($1.67bn), and The Lion King ($1.66bn). Number eight title Spider-Man: No Way Home may be just beyond its reach, at $1.9bn.

Housemaid cleans up again

The Housemaid is proving a consistent draw for global audiences, falling just 4% on its previous weekend with $35.1m. This was enough to overtake Zootopia 2, pushing The Housemaid to second in the global chart.

Now playing in 72 markets, Paul Feig’s family thriller made $26.6m in international territories and $8.5m in North America. It now has an impressive $245.7m worldwide, comprised of $138.6m from international and $107.1m from North America, according to latest estimates. Sydney Sweeney stars alongside Amanda Seyfried.

Hamnet charts

Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet made the global top 10 for the first time, with $6.5m from eight territories enough for ninth place.

The Universal film – released by Focus Features in North America – made $5.1m from international markets for a $12.9m total there; and $1.3m from North America for $14.7m; for a $27.6m cume from just eight markets, according to latest estimates.

Its $12.9m international total is above recent awards contenders The Favourite, A Complete Unknown, and Belfast at the same stage; with double Poor Things and more than double Conclave.

It took a strong $1.1m opening from Australia, where it has already topped the lifetimes of The Fabelmans, All Of Us Strangers and The Zone Of Interest; while Brazil opened to $700,000, New Zealand to $198,000 in second place locally, and Chile to $75,000.

Key markets to come include France on January 21; Germany on January 22; Spain on January 23; Mexico on January 29; Italy on February 5; South Korea on February 25; and Japan on April 10.

Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal star in the story of Agnes Shakespeare and William Shakespeare, a young couple in late 16th-century England whose family life is struck by tragedy.

Marty Supreme, a fellow awards contender in the current season, rose from ninth to fifth place in the global chart.

It held well on its previous session, falling just 8% with $9.8m worldwide, from $4.4m international and $5.5m in North America from 20 total markets.

Josh Safdie’s table tennis drama will cross the $100m worldwide mark today (currently at $99.6m). It has $19.9m in international markets; and a strong $79.7m in North America, where it is the highest-grossing release ever for A24, ahead of Everything Everywhere All At Once ($77m).

One title not in the English language made this weekend’s top ten: Anil Ravipudi’s Bollywood action comedy Mana ShankaraVaraprasad Garu, in sixth place with $9.2m from 14 markets, including $8.5m international and $674,909 in North America.

The film has $32.6m in total, comprised of $29.7m international and $2.9m in North America.

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