Source: Comscore
Special Thanks to Paul Dergarabedian

Comscore has announced the official North American and Global box office estimates for the weekend of March 24, 2024, as compiled by the company’s theatrical measurement services. As the trusted official standard for real-time worldwide box office reporting, Comscore provides the only theater-level reporting in the world. Customers are able to analyze admissions and gross results around the world using Comscore's suite of products.

Remarking on the spectacular opening weekend number for GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE, Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore Senior Media Analyst, told SciFi Japan that, "The allure and appeal of GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE in cinemas was undeniable for movie fans around the globe who clearly understand the necessity to view two of literally the biggest movie stars in the world within the immersive environment of the movie theatre and the result was an impressive over-performance that outpaced even the most generous pre-release projections."

Comscore – Domestic Box Office Estimates – March 31, 2024, by Paul Dergarabedian  

A re-cap of this weekend’s notable performers as reported by their respective distributors. Please note this weekend’s overall total estimated 3-day Domestic box office is $136.4M and YTD 2024 (estimated at $1.645B through Sunday) is down 6% vs. 2023.

■ Notable Domestic Openers

• A smashing start for this monster as Warner Bros.’ GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE conquers the box office with the 2^nd biggest opening weekend of 2024 raking in a much better than expected $80.0 million in 3,861 locations for a PTA of $20,720. Internationally the film pulled in an impressive $114.0 million for a global debut of $194.0 million! Directed by Adam Wingard, this latest entry in the MonsterVerse franchise follows up the explosive showdown of GODZILLA VS. KONG with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence -- and our own. The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever. The film stars Rebecca Hall, Dan Stevens, Alex Ferns, Brian Tyree Henry, Fala Chen & Kaylee Hottle.
• Debuting in 8^th place, Prathyangira Cinemas released TILLU SQUARE this weekend in 450 theatres to a weekend debut of $1,836,168 for a PTA of $4,080. The film is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language romantic crime comedy film directed by Mallik Ram and produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi under the banner of Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas and is the sequel to the 2022 film DJ Tillu.
• In 9^th, FunAsia Films’ CREW opened in 485 locations to a weekend debut of $1,493,037 for a PTA of $3,078 The Indian film is an entertaining and captivating comic adventure! Three ordinary air hostesses from Mumbai embark on a journey to pursue their dreams but find themselves caught up in unexpected misfortunes. This comic caper directed by Rajesh Krishnan offers a delightful blend of humor, light-heartedness, and humanism and stars Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kriti Sanon, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Kapil Sharma, Diljit Dosanjh & Pooja Bhamrrah.
• Opening in the 11^th spot, Variance opened IN THE LAND OF SAINTS AND SINNERS in 896 locations to a weekend debut of $1,056,000 for a PTA of $1,179. Ireland, 1970s. Eager to leave his dark past behind, Finbar Murphy (Liam Neeson) leads a quiet life in the remote coastal town of Glencolmcille, far from the political violence that grips the rest of the country. But when a menacing crew of terrorists arrive, led by a ruthless woman named Doirean (Kerry Condon), Finbar is drawn into an increasingly vicious game of cat and mouse, forcing him to choose between exposing his secret identity or defending his friends and neighbors.
• Roadside Attractions opened ASPHALT CITY in 298 locations to a weekend debut of $130,600 for a PTA of $438. An idealistic young paramedic battles through his first year on the decaying streets of East New York and faces a moral dilemma when his senior partner is investigated for attempted murder. The R-rated suspense film stars Sean Penn, Katherine Waterston, Tye Sheridan, Mike Tyson, Michael Pitt and is directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire.
• SPC opened “Wicked Little Letters” in 5 locations to a debut weekend of $87,939 for a PTA of $17,588.  A 1920s English seaside town bears witness to a farcical and occasionally sinister scandal in this riotous mystery comedy. Based on a stranger than fiction true story, the film follows two neighbors: deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). When Edith and fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, foul-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues. However, as the town’s women - led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) - begin to investigate the crime themselves, they suspect that something is amiss, and Rose may not be the culprit after all.
• Atlas Distribution Company opened A FRAGILE FLOWER in 55 locations for a weekend debut of $73k for a PTA of $1,327. The USA/Vietnamese production tells the story of Thach Thao, a beautiful girl with an angelic beautiful voice, and the first time she sang on stage at Itango Club, Thao immediately caught the eye of a music producer named Son. Then, she was invited to cooperate in filming a music video called "A Fragile Flower". After the music video was released, Thach Thao became a renowned singer. She is beautiful, talented, so many men love her. Then, which man will Thao's heart belong to? And what is the dangerous disease that she encountered?
• Neon opened LA CHIMERA in 3 locations to a weekend debut of $45,037 for a PTA of 15,012. In this Italian film, everyone has their own Chimera, something they try to achieve but never manage to find. For the band of tombaroli, thieves of ancient grave goods and archaeological wonders, the Chimera means redemption from work and the dream of easy wealth. For Arthur, the Chimera looks like the woman he lost, Beniamina. To find her, Arthur challenges the invisible, searches everywhere, goes inside the earth -- in search of the door to the afterlife of which myths speak. In an adventurous journey between the living and the dead, between forests and cities, between celebrations and solitudes, the intertwined destinies of these characters unfold, all in search of the Chimera.

■ Notable Domestic Holdovers

• In second place, Sony reports Columbia Pictures’ GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE earned $5.525 million on Friday, $6.300 million on Saturday, a projected $3.875 million on Sunday from 4,345 locations for a weekend gross of $15.700 million (-65%) for the weekend, bringing its total domestic gross to $73.401 million through Sunday. In this latest chapter of the “Ghostbusters” saga, the Spengler family returns to where it all started -- the iconic New York City firehouse -- to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who've developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an army of ghosts that casts a death chill upon the city, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.
• In the 3rd spot, Warner Bros.’ DUNE: PART TWO now in weekend 5 in 3,136 theatres earned $11.1 million for a PTA of $3,540 for a domestic cume through Sunday of $252,390,027. The saga continues as award-winning filmmaker Denis Villeneuve embarks on Dune: Part Two,” the next chapter of Frank Herbert's celebrated novel Dune, with an expanded all-star international ensemble cast. The film, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2021's six-time Academy Award-winning DUNE. This film explores the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
• In the 4th spot, Universal reports KUNG FU PANDA 4 now in weekend 4 earned an estimated $10.2 million in 3,970 theatres for a PTA of $2,848 for a domestic cume through Sunday of $151,652,055. After three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Golden Globe nominee Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to … give it a rest already. More specifically, he’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. That poses a couple of obvious problems. First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position. 
• Rounding out the Top 5, Neon’s IMMACULATE now in weekend 2 in 2,362 locations earned $3.265 million for a PTA of $1,382 for a domestic cume through Sunday of $11,128,191. Sydney Sweeney (ANYONE BUT YOU, EUPHORIA, THE WHITE LOTUS) stars as Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarking on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia’s warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors. The film also stars Simona Tabasco, Benedetta Porcaroli, Álvaro Morte and is directed by Michael Mohan.

■ Notable Expansions

• IFC Films’ LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL now in weekend 2 added 408 locations for a total of 1,442 taking in $2,205,693 for a PTA of $1,530 and a domestic cume through Sunday of $6,294,451. The R-rated horror film tells the tale of a live television broadcast in 1977 that goes horribly wrong, unleashing evil into the nation's living rooms. The film stars Ian Bliss, Laura Gordon, David Dastmalchian, Josh Quong Tart, Fayssal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli, Rhys Auteri and is written and directed by Cameron Cairnes & Colin Cairnes.

■ IMAX Domestic/Global Highlights (Courtesy of IMAX)

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE roars onto the global IMAX network leading a weekend IMAX total of $25.4M across all titles

Warner Bros/Legendary’s GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE generates an IMAX global total of $20.5M, the fifth best March IMAX global opening ever.   

1. The Domestic IMAX weekend returns $8.8M for GXK, a solid 11% of the nationwide weekend total.
2. International markets combine for $11.7M, with China accounting for a massive $7.5M, 16.7% of the Middle Kingdom total. 

Continuing its remarkable run, Warner Bros/Legendary’s DUNE: PART TWO earns $4m in its fifth weekend in IMAX, pushing the global IMAX total to $134M. 

1. The Domestic weekend is $1.65M with the cume reaching $62M. DUNE: PART TWO is now the 8^th Highest IMAX Domestic release ever.
2. The International weekend stands at $2.3M for an Int’l cume of $72M.

DUNE PART TWO becomes the 7^th Highest IMAX International result ever. 

1. In China, DUNE: PART TWO’s running total is 15.5M.

Christopher Nolan’s Academy award-winning OPPENHEIMER opens in Japan to a hefty $810K. The 50 IMAX Japan screens represent a fantastic 30% of the overall opening weekend total. The global IMAX total for the films now stands at $188.7M.

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE will continue its reign over the IMAX network next weekend, adding 58 IMAX screens in 9 markets, including France, Germany, Switzerland, and Turkey.