Box Office Report: ‘Dune: Part Two’ Knocks Arrives With A Boost To The Box Office

Box Office analysis is provided by Daniel Garris of BoxOfficeReport.com.

Weekend Box Office Report: March 1st, 2024 to March 3rd, 2024

Warner Bros. and Legendary's Dune: Part Two delivered a much needed boost to the box office upon arriving in theatres this weekend. With updated studio estimates, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2021's Dune debuted with $82.5 million this weekend. That ended up a tad higher than Sunday's initial weekend studio estimate of $81.5 million. Dune: Part Two opened towards the higher end of consensus expectations, which had ranged anywhere from $65 million to $85 million heading into the weekend. Dune: Part Two doubled up the $41.01 million opening weekend of Dune back in October of 2021, thanks in part to the strong reception to Dune (2021), even stronger critical reviews this time around and the decision to open Dune: Part Two exclusively in theatres (whereas Dune opened day-and-date theatrically and via streaming on what was HBO Max at the time).

Dune: Part Two essentially duplicated the $82.46 million debut of Oppenheimer in July of last year. Like Oppenheimer, Dune: Part Two benefited greatly from an especially strong IMAX performance as Dune: Part Two grossed an estimated $18.5 million from domestic IMAX screens this weekend, which represented 22.4 percent of this weekend's overall domestic gross. For comparison, Oppenheimer grossed an estimated $21.1 million from domestic IMAX screens over opening weekend. All premium formats (including IMAX) represented an estimated 48 percent of this weekend's overall domestic performance for Dune: Part Two. Like Dune (2021), Dune: Part Two was directed by Denis Villeneuve. The film's ensemble cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling and Javier Bardem.

Dune: Part Two started out with $32.15 million on Friday (which included an estimated $12.0 million from Thursday preview shows that began at 3PM and early access IMAX shows on Sunday, February 25), declined just 10.7 percent on Saturday to gross $28.70 million and decreased 24.6 percent on Sunday to take in $21.65 million. Saturday's daily hold for Dune: Part Two is an early sign of the film going over very well with audiences, though it should also be noted that Dune: Part Two skewing heavily towards adult audiences also contributed to the film's opening weekend performance being more Saturday heavy. The audience breakdown for Dune: Part Two skewed 76 percent over the age of 25, 24 percent under the age of 25, 59 percent male and 41 percent female. The strong A rating for Dune: Part Two on CinemaScore is also an early sign of the film going over very well with audiences. In comparison, 2021's Dune received an A- rating on CinemaScore. While there was obviously a much larger opening weekend rush-out for Dune: Part Two than there was for Dune, Dune: Part Two could potentially hold up just as well or even better than Dune did after opening weekend, thanks in part to the overall increased audience size, stronger critical reviews and word of mouth and from not being available on streaming (the streaming release for Dune no doubt had a negative impact on holding power for the film).

Internationally, Dune: Part Two also impressed this weekend with $100.0 million from 71 international markets. That places the global launch for the film at $182.5 million. According to Warner Bros., Dune: Part Two opened 81 percent stronger than Dune did in international like-for-like markets. Opening weekend performances for Dune: Part Two by international market included $11.8 million in the United Kingdom, $9.8 million in France, $9.1 million in Germany, $6.8 million in South Korea, $5.9 million in Australia, $4.1 million in Italy, $3.9 million in Mexico, $3.5 million in Spain, $2.8 million in Poland, $2.6 million in the Netherlands, $2.5 million in Taiwan, $2.1 million in Brazil and $2.0 million in Sweden. Dune: Part Two grossed an estimated $13.7 million from international IMAX screens, which places the film's global IMAX launch at $32.2 million. Dune: Part Two will open in China this coming Friday (March 8) and in Japan the following Friday (March 15).

After leading the box office each of the past two weekends, Paramount's Bob Marley: One Love placed in second with an estimated $7.43 million. Bob Marley: One Love declined 44.8 percent from last weekend, which was a solid hold given the added presence of Dune: Part Two in the marketplace and also represented some stabilization in comparison to the film's 53.0 percent second weekend decline last weekend. The 19-day domestic start for Bob Marley: One Love stands at $82.77 million. After this weekend's hold, Bob Marley: One Love is still in pretty good shape to eventually cross the $100 million domestic mark. Internationally, Bob Marley: One Love grossed an estimated $8.8 million this weekend from 56 international markets. Respective totals for the film stand at $63.3 million internationally and at $146.1 million globally. Totals for Bob Marley: One Love by international market through Sunday include $17.3 million in the United Kingdom, $12.7 million in France, $4.2 million in Germany, $4.0 million in Brazil and $3.7 million in Australia.

Lionsgate's Ordinary Angels grossed an estimated $3.85 million to hold steady in third place. Ordinary Angels declined just 37.5 percent from last weekend's debut. That was a strong second weekend hold, especially since Ordinary Angels faced new competition for faith-based audiences from Fathom Events' release of The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 7 & 8 this weekend. Ordinary Angels benefited this weekend from strong critical reviews, strong word of mouth (the film received a perfect A+ rating on CinemaScore) and from holding onto a very high percentage of its average showtimes per location from last weekend. The ten-day domestic total for Ordinary Angels stands at $12.56 million. Ordinary Angels will soon face additional competition for faith-based audiences with Angel Studios' release of Cabrini next weekend on March 8.

With actuals, Fathom Events' release of The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 7 & 8 placed in fourth with $3.27 million. With the addition of Thursday's performance, the four-day start for the third and final theatrical installment of The Chosen Season 4 stands at $4.03 million. In comparison, two weeks ago The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 4 – 6 had a slightly stronger start with respective three-day opening weekend and four-day grosses of $3.61 million and $4.39 million. After Season 4: Episodes 4 – 6 experienced a larger drop-off from the performance of Season 4: Episodes 1 – 3 two weeks earlier, it makes sense that Season 4: Episodes 7 & 8 would have maintained most of the theatrical audience from Season 4: Episodes 4 – 6. The Chosen Season 4: Episodes 4 – 6 went on to finish its two-week domestic run with $8.88 million. As mentioned, there will be additional competition for faith-based audiences next weekend with the release of Cabrini.

With updated estimates, Sony's Madame Web rounded out this weekend's top five with $3.17 million. Despite poor critical reviews, mixed word of mouth and the added presence of Dune: Part Two in the marketplace, Madame Web was able to stabilize this weekend by declining a respectable 46.5 percent from last weekend (when the film declined 61.4 percent). In the bigger picture, the 19-day domestic total for Madame Web stands at a lackluster $40.41 million. Internationally, Madame Web grossed an estimated $5.0 million this weekend from 65 international markets. That brings the film's international total to $50.6 million and current global haul to $91.0 million.

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