Way of Water Tops Box Office for Seventh Straight Weekend - Rises to Fourth on Global Charts

By Chris Kavan - 02/01/23 at 11:07 AM CT

With no new wide releases once again n this week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin, the bulk of my time will be recapping the weekend box office which was once again topped by Avatar: The Way of Water. It became just the second film - after the original Avatar - to top the box office for seven consecutive weekends. The only other film to hold more consecutive weekends at number one? Titanic - with a whopping 15 - something that, sadly, Way of Water won't be able to match but considering its current epic run, not a lot of tears will be shed.

Way of Water dipped just 20.7% on its seventh weekend out on top, adding nearly $16 million for the weekend for a new total of $620.8 million. Adding in $42.4 million overseas gives it an international total of $1.49 billion - for a global total of $2.118 billion. That was enough for it to pass Star Wars: The Force Awakens for fourth place on the all-time global list and it is just $52 million shy of reaching Titanic at $2.208 billion - which it will surely do by next weekend. It also managed to break the record in France - its biggest market yet where it set a new record. All told, Way of Water should have been subtitles Everything Everywhere All at Once given its epic run.

In second place, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish had the best hold among the top 10 with just an 11.1% dip for a $10.5 million weekend and a new $140.7 million domestic total. It seems like $150 is inevitable at this point and the film has had remarkable staying power. With just over $195 million international the animated sequel has hit $336.3 million global It still had two big markets in the UK and Japan - so its story isn't done yet and remains one of the most impressive family films in recent memory.

In third place, Bollywood title Pathaan was a surprise showing in limited release out of 695 theaters with a $6.88 million debut. It also had the best per-theater average among the top 20 with a $9,902-per theater claim. Those who follow the scene know that Yash Raj Films are known for their spy stories, and, indeed long-time collaborator Salman Khan even shows up as his Tiger character from previous films. In any case, Shah Rukh Khan is the main star as he takes on a group of mercenaries looking to target his home town. Bollywood titles have become more common in the top 10 (or top 5) in recent years but do tend to be front-loaded and drop off after the first week. Still, as long as they target their audience - that audience will show up in force.

In fourth place, Tom Hanks had a solid hold for A Man Called Otto with a 24.4% dip and a $6.65 million weekend. That give the grumpy old man a new $46 million domestic total with a world-wide take of $71.4 million. While that's still only middling numbers for Hanks - the staying power seems strong and could still hit that $60 million domestic total that Hnaks seems to have found himself in for the majority of his more recent films. Adults are still driving this one - we'll see how far it can go.

Rounding out the top five was horror film M3GAN, which took a 35.5% hit but still managed a $6.25 million weekend and a new $82.1 million domestic total. It's still playing well but may fall short of the vaulted $100 million that Smile hit but should be able to top Black Phone's $90 million domestic total in the end. It is also nearing $150 million worldwide, falling just short for the moment with $146.8 million but that total should be reached sometime this week.

Outside the top five: Two horror films dropped in semi-wide release. Brandon Cronenberg's latest intense, polarizing romp Infinity Pool - starring new horror maven Mia Goth, along with Alexander Skarsgård and Cleopatra Coleman, saw a $2.51 million debut (9th place) out of 1,835 theaters. Neon probably wanted more but considering how crazy things get in the film, I can see why it wasn't embraced by a wider audience.

Fear, from new distributor Hidden Empire Releasing, opened with $1.22 million (12th place) from 974 theaters. That is actually not bad for a first-time effort.

Also of note, Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist - technically the fifth film in the series (or sixth if counting the New Generation spin-off) opened to $2.55 million (11th place). While the original series was straight-to-video trash, at least some effort is being put into things - but I still see this as some kind of religious propaganda with some decent names attached: Neal McDonough, Corbin Bernsen and the always-there-for-these-type-of-films Kevin Sorbo.

Next week M. Night Shyamalan delivers a Knock at the Cabin - which could finally unseat Way of Water. We also get 80 for Brady and animated adventure The Amazing Maurice.

MPAA Official Logo

Without any new wide releases from the MPAA Ratings Bulletin this week, I will once again provide the updated list as it is:

BEAUTIFUL DISASTER

Rated R for sexual content, language, some violence and teen drinking.


BLUEBACK

Rated PG for some thematic elements, peril and brief mild language.


THE ISLAND

Rated R for violent content, language and some drug material.


A LITTLE WHITE LIE

Rated R for language.


THE SWAN PRINCESS: A FAIRYTALE IS BORN

Rated PG for mild thematic elements.


TRANSFUSION

Rated R for violence, language throughout, teen drinking and drug use.

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