Things are downright electrifying in Warner Bros.' DCEU these days. Following up the billion-dollar success story that wasAquaman, theZachary Levi-starringShazam!just debuted to a solid $53 million weekend, totaling $56.8 million with previews. Now, this does mark the lowest opening in the franchises' seven-movie history—just behind Aquaman’s $67 million;Batman vs. Supermanis in first with $166 million—the news gets even sweeter when you factor in overseas.Shazam!took in a whopping $102 million at the foreign box office in its debut, bringing its worldwide total to $158 million.
Directed byDavid F. Sanberg,Shazam!stars Asher Angel as the 14-year-old Billy Batson, who can transform into an adult superhero, played by Levi. Audiences gave the film a stellar A CinemaScore, and critics are similarly charmed. Inhis review, Collider’s own Matt Goldberg called the movie “a superhero film that just wants to have a good time.”
On the opposite end of the “just wants to have a good time” spectrum,Pet Semataryopened with a pretty strong $25 million. This is the second-highest opening for a film based on aStephen Kingbook ever, beating out1408’s $20 million but miles belowIT’s $123 million. (Although, adjusted for inflation the 1989Pet Sematarywould’ve made about $24 million today.) Directed byKevin KölschandDennis Widmyer,Pet Semataryfollows a married couple (Jason ClarkeandAmy Seimetz) who discover a burial ground that can bring the dead back to life.
The weekend’s third new film, STX’sBest of Enemies, landed in sixth place with $4.5 million. Written and directed by Robin Bissell, the film starsTaraji P. Hensonas a civil rights activist going head-to-head with Ku Klux Klan member C.P. Ellis (Sam Rockwell).
Check out the weekend’s top 10 estimates below, and be back here next week to see ifHellboycan light the box office on fire.
$53,450,000
$56,775,000
Pet Sematary
$25,000,000
$18,224,000
$76,271,489
$13,813,000
$152,395,995
Captain Marvel
$12,682,000
$374,133,563
The Best of Enemies
$4,500,000
Five Feet Apart
$3,700,000
$41,591,252
$3,200,000
$12,467,510
Wonder Park
$2,040,000
$41,980,513
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
$1,985,000
$156,692,245
