With an estimated $7.4 million in revenue, the Amazon/MGM action film "The Beekeeper" soared to the top of the North American box office during a sluggish winter weekend, according to industry observer Exhibitor Relations.
"The Beekeeper" is a success, according to Franchise Entertainment Research analyst David A. Gross. "This is not just another action thriller-those flicks go out quickly. "The Beekeeper has potential as a series."
He projected that the movie, which brought in an estimated $40 million during its third week of release, might end up making $150 million worldwide.
Tough individual Jason Statham portrays the beekeeper in question, an ex-commando out to exact revenge on a criminal organization whose brutal con games caused his friend (Phylicia Rashad) to commit suicide.
"Beekeeper" barely defeated Paramount's "Mean Girls," which was the weekend's biggest movie, earning an estimated $7.3 million in the US and Canada from Friday through Sunday. This raises the movie's $60.8 million domestic total in three weeks—not bad for a picture that cost about $36 million.
Warner Bros.' fantasy musical "Wonka," which debuted in its seventh week and is a remarkable success, came in third place with $5.9 million. With Hugh Grant and Olivia Colman in the cast, Timothee Chalamet plays the quirky chocolatier. "Wonka," which cost $100 million to make, has made slightly more than $550 million worldwide.
"Migration," a family-friendly animation from Universal and Illumination about the adventures of a traveling mallard duck family, flew steadily in fourth place. With $5.2 million in revenue, it crossed the $100 million threshold in North America.
The Sony romantic comedy "Anyone But You," starring Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, came in fifth place with $4.8 million. With sales of $71.2 million domestically and $55 million internationally, the sleeper hit has brought in a total of $126.2 million.
There were no big new studio releases this past weekend for the second consecutive weekend. The following three made up this weekend's top 10: Fighter ($3.8 million). "Bad Things" (3 million dollars) "Fiction in America" ($2.9 million). "The Lost Kingdom: Aquaman" ($2.8 million). For $2.6 million, "Godzilla Minus One"