“Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” continue to dominate the box office, providing a much-needed boost amid challenges facing the exhibition industry. Greta Gerwig’s colorful fantasy comedy, “Barbie,” earned an impressive $93 million in its second weekend, ranking as the seventh-biggest second-weekend performance in history. Christopher Nolan’s dark historical drama, “Oppenheimer,” also had a strong sophomore outing, bringing in $46.6 million. “Barbie” has grossed $351.4 million in North America and over $750 million globally, while “Oppenheimer” has earned $174 million domestically and $400 million worldwide.
Despite the success of these blockbusters, two new movies struggled to attract audiences. Disney’s remake of “Haunted Mansion” debuted in third place, earning $24.6 million domestically and $9.1 million internationally, facing challenges as a kid-centric film released in July. The movie received a “B+” CinemaScore and has a high bar to reach profitability, considering its $150 million production budget.
On the other hand, A24’s low-budget thriller “Talk to Me” exceeded expectations, generating a healthy $10 million in its wide release debut. The positive reviews and word-of-mouth helped the film succeed at the box office, following the story of a friend group experimenting with conjuring spirits, leading to terrifying consequences.
Meanwhile, the independent film “Sound of Freedom” continued its impressive run, earning $13.6 million in its fifth weekend and amassing $150 million domestically. The thriller about child sex trafficking surpassed the earnings of big-budget movies like “Fast X,” “Elemental,” and “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.”
As Hollywood navigates the challenges of the changing exhibition landscape, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” stand tall as box office powerhouses, while smaller films like “Talk to Me” and “Sound of Freedom” demonstrate that compelling stories can still find success with audiences.
