Hollywood marked its biggest movie premiere of 2024 as
Warner Bros. Discovery’s
Dune: Part Two blew past already-high expectations with domestic box office sales of $81.5 million.
Industry ticket sales are still down 13% from the same period last year, as studios try to overcome the effects of last year’s strikes and the shift from theater attendance to streaming.
Dune sold another $97 million internationally, for a total global weekend take of $178.5 million,
Comscore
said. About 23% of U.S. sales, or $18.5 million, were on
IMAX
screens, the biggest domestic IMAX March opening ever.
Paramount’s
Bob Marley: One Love was second-highest at the box office this weekend, with $7.4 million in domestic sales, while
Lionsgate’s
Ordinary Angels, was third with $3.9 million.
Sony’s
Madame Web was fourth with $3.2 million.
So far this year, Warner Bros.’ Wonka is the top domestic film with sales of $82.3 million, remaining first after its December release, according to Box Office Mojo. Worldwide, Dune surpassed the previous top-grossing film, MGM’s The Beekeeper, which has sold $150.6 million.
Dune, which was delayed for release from November because of the actors’ and writers’ strikes, is kicking off a busy March release calendar. Next Friday’s premieres include Lionsgate’s Imaginary, Universal Pictures’ Kung Fu Panda 4, Universal’s Rayman’s Big Movie, and Angel Studios’ Cabrini.
Write to Janet H. Cho at janet.cho@dowjones.com
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