“The Nun II,” the sequel to the 2018 blockbuster, has taken the top spot at the North American box office during its opening weekend, collecting an estimated $32.6 million from 3,728 theaters. This remarkable performance managed to surpass Sony’s “The Equalizer 3,” according to industry reports.
“Nun 2,” also known as “The Nun II,” is the ninth installment in Warner Bros.’ ongoing “Conjuring” film series, directed by Michael Graves and featuring talents like Taissa Farmiga and Storm Reid.
Both “The Nun” movies are significant parts of the larger ‘Conjuring’ cinematic universe, which has collectively grossed an impressive $2.1 billion at the box office.
In its second weekend, “The Nun II” pushed Denzel Washington’s “Equalizer 3” to second place, adding $12.1 million to its domestic gross, totaling $61.9 million, and worldwide earnings reaching $107.7 million.
The third spot was claimed by another new release: the third installment of Nia Vardalos’s “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” arriving 21 years after the original film became a surprise hit, earning around $369 million with a mere $5 million production budget.
Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore, commented on the potential of a horror universe, saying, “To have a horror universe is really powerful in terms of revenue generation. It’s a wise bet that Warner Bros. has made on the enduring appeal of horror movies.”
Looking ahead, there’s a lineup of more chilling movies set to be released through the fall, including “A Death in Venice” opening next week, “Saw X” on Sept. 29, and “The Exorcist: Believer” on Oct. 6.
“Barbie,” which becomes available on VOD on Tuesday, slipped to the fifth position after a successful 8-week run, accumulating $5.9 million from 3,281 locations. The Warner Bros. film has now reached a domestic total of $620.5 million.