Frozen Empire opens with a tepid $41 million at the box office

“Ghostbusters: The Frozen Empire”

Sony pictures

Sony Ghostbusters: The Frozen Empire It should have no trouble winning a relatively quiet weekend at the box office, but opinions are divided on whether it can reach $42 million to $44 million in its domestic opening.

Sony remains optimistic that it will actually reach that number after earning $16 million on Friday, including $4.7 million in Thursday previews. However, competing studios appear Frozen Empire It comes in at about $41 million, after launching $44 million for pandemic challenges Ghostbusters: Afterlife In 2021. Nearly 40 percent of Friday’s total came from premium format screens, including select Imax locations. (Sand Dunes: Part Two It still has a large IMAX footprint.)

the most recent Ghostbusters The entry is challenged by average reviews and a B+ CinemaScore from audiences, compared to an A- for hereafter. Another challenge is bad weather along the East Coast.

Frozen Empire It is a direct sequel to hereafter, which succeeded in bringing back the luster of the classic franchise created by the late Ivan Reitman. It was directed by his son, Jason Reitman hereafterbut this time the lead duties were handed over to series co-writer Gil Keenan.

The film features returning cast members Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Celeste O’Connor, and Logan Kim, along with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and William Atherton, who starred in the original 1980s films. Newcomers to the series include Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt.

The story, written by Keenan and Reitman, follows the Spengler family as they return to a New York City firehouse to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who have developed a top-secret research laboratory to take busted ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an army of ghosts that cast deadly hail upon the city, demon fighters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age.

The other new nationwide opener for the weekend is specialty horror pic from Neon Immaculate, very clean, very organizedstarring Sydney Sweeney, fresh off of a successful rom-com Anyone but you.

Immaculate, very clean, very organized, which is fueled by younger women, is on track to take fourth place with an estimated $5 million, in line with independent film expectations. The picture received a C CinemaScore, which is unusual for a horror film.

in Immaculate, very clean, very organizedSweeney plays a devout nun who travels to a remote monastery in the picturesque Italian countryside, but her journey quickly turns into a nightmare as it becomes clear that her new home hides a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors. It is tracking to open in the low single digits.

Legendary Warner Bros. Sand dunes Part 2 ranks second with an estimated $16 million in weekend revenue in its fourth outing. The film will finish on Sunday with an impressive $230 million or so domestic cume.

Universal and DreamWorks Animation Kung Fu Panda 4 It is also well maintained as more and more children get out of school for spring break. The film, now in its third outing, is looking to take in an estimated $14.5 million for a domestic cume of $131 million through Sunday.

Rounding out the top five is Lionsgate King ArthurStarring Mark Wahlberg. The film, about the inspiring bond formed between a dog and a group of professional adventurers, is on pace to earn $4.5 million in its second outing for a domestic total of $14.3 million.

The numbers will be updated on Sunday