Box Office Round-Up ~ 5/1/24

By: [email protected] on

As April came to a close this past weekend, two new releases exceeded expectations to win the top spots at the box office. Challengers debuted atop the charts with $15 million. For director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, Suspiria), that represents not only the first time one of his films has topped the box office, but also the highest grossing domestic release of his career.

In second place, faith-based drama Unsung Hero debuted with a surprising $7.7 million. In its fifth weekend in theaters, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire grossed $7.2 million to pass $180 million domestically. Civil War remained in the top five as well, passing $50 million overall with a third-weekend haul of $7 million. Last but not least, Abigail saw a sophomore weekend take of $5.2 million, putting the vampire ballerina on the doorstep of $20 million overall.

While it was once again a relatively quiet weekend numbers-wise, four of the top five releases grossed more than $7 million (the top three plus Civil War and four also exceeded their predicted numbers (the top three plus Abigail). Theater chains undoubtedly would like the summer blockbuster season to arrive, and many hope the Ryan Gosling/Emily Blunt The Fall Guy will herald that season’s arrival this coming weekend.

1. Challengers ($15 MM)
Director: Luca Guadagnino (CAA)
Writers: Justin Kuritzkes (CAA)
Cast: Zendaya (CAA)
         Mike Faist (WME)
         Josh O’Connor (CAA)

2. Unsung Hero ($7.7 MM)
Director: Richard Ramsey, Joel Smallbone (Smallbone Management)
Writers: Richard Ramsey, Joel Smallbone (Smallbone Management)
Cast: Daisy Betts (Danis, Panaro, Nist Talent)
        Joel Smallbone (Smallbone Management)
       Kirrilee Berger (Buchwald)

3.  Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire ($7.2 MM)
Director: Adam Wingard (CAA)
Writers: Terry Rossio (CAA), Simon Barrett (Novo Entertainment), Jeremy Slater (UTA), Adam Wingard (CAA)
Cast: Rebecca Hall (WME)
        Brian Tyree Henry (CAA)
        Dan Stevens (CAA)

4.  Civil War ($7 MM)
Director: Alex Garland (WME)
Writers: Alex Garland (WME)
Cast: Kirsten Dunst (UTA)
        Wagner Moura (WME)
        Nick Offerman (UTA)

5.  Abigail ($5.2 MM)
Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin (UTA), Tyler Gillett (UTA)
Writers: Stephen Shields (UTA), Guy Busick (Verve)
Cast: Melissa Barrera (WME)
        Dan Stevens (CAA)
        Alisha Weir (CAA)

Source: Box Office Mojo, The Numbers