Space Jam: A New Legacy nets a win at the weekend box office!

Space Jam sequel dunks on competition!

The blend of basketball and cartoon favorites was the main attraction this weekend as SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY opened in first place at the box office with an estimated $31.6 million!

The PG-rated Warner Bros. release, which has NBA superstar LeBron James joining Bugs Bunny and friends on a galactic trip for a big game, also simultaneously premiered on the HBO Max streaming platform.

The live-action/animated sequel, packed with Looney Tunes stars and other Warner Bros. cameos and references, also features Don Cheadle and Sonequa Martin-Green. The movie rounded up an additional $23 million from international crowds for a worldwide total of $54.6 million.

Directed by Malcolm D. Lee (UNDERCOVER BROTHER, GIRLS TRIP), the new follow-up to the 1996 fan-favorite SPACE JAM (with Hall of Fame baller Michael Jordan) cost a reported $150 million.

Critics clearly weren't rooting for LeBron and the Tune Squad, giving the movie an average of 31% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 36 on Metacritic. Dribble on over to the JoBlo review HERE.

After its debut on top last week, Marvel's BLACK WIDOW got bumped down to second place with $26.2 million. The glimpse into the history of Scarlett Johansson's spy life took a dive of 67% from its opening, the biggest drop yet for a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie (SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING and ANT-MAN AND THE WASP each lost 62% in their second weekend).

The PG-13 Disney release (which also launched for a Premier Access fee on the Disney+ streaming service) has a ten-day domestic total of $132 million and $264 million worldwide, on a reported cost of $200 million.

Opening in third place was the horror sequel ESCAPE ROOM: TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS with $8.8 million for the weekend.

The PG-13 thriller about deadly games comes from the first movie's director Adam Robitel. The original ESCAPE ROOM was a surprise hit in 2019, trapping $155 million worldwide on a modest $9 million budget.

The new Sony release, which again features Taylor Russell and Logan Miller trying to solve devious lethal puzzles, came with a reported cost of $15 million.

Critics seemed ready to find the exit, giving the movie an average of 42% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 47 on Metacritic. Search for clues in the JoBlo review HERE.

In fourth place was the PG-13 action sequel F9: THE FAST SAGA with $7.6 million. After four weekends on North American screens, the $200 million Universal release has a domestic total of $154.8 million and a worldwide total of $591 million.

The PG-rated animated sequel THE BOSS BABY: FAMILY BUSINESS was in fifth place with $4.7 million on its third weekend. The $82 million Universal release has crawled to a domestic total of $44.6 million.

In sixth place was another Universal release, the R-rated horror-thriller THE FOREVER PURGE with $4.1 million. After three weekends, the fifth movie about the legal-crime holiday has a domestic total of $35.9 million and $48.4 million worldwide, on a reported cost of $18 million.

The PG-13 thriller A QUIET PLACE: PART II was in seventh place with $2.3 million on its eighth weekend sneaking around theaters. Paramount's $61 million sequel has a domestic total of $155 million and $281 million worldwide.

In eighth place was the new R-rated documentary ROADRUNNER: A FILM ABOUT ANTHONY BOURDAIN with $1.9 million from its release on 927 domestic screens.

Directed by Morgan Neville (WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?), the Focus Features release about the renowned chef and travel show host recently stirred up some controversy for incorporating an A.I.-generated voice of the late celebrity, and for choosing not to interview his last romantic partner Asia Argento.

Critics had an appetite for the look into the life of the beloved "bad boy", giving the movie a 95% average on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 80 on Metacritic. Chomp on the JoBlo review HERE.

The Disney prequel CRUELLA was in ninth place with $1.1 million on its eighth weekend in theaters. The PG-13 release (also on Disney+ for extra bucks) has a domestic total of $83.4 million and $224 million worldwide.

Opening in tenth place was the Nicolas Cage truffle-hunting drama PIG with $945,000 from a limited release in 552 domestic theaters.

Critics were mesmerized by the tale of a man and his foraging friend, giving the movie a 97% average on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 84. Sniff out the JoBlo review HERE.

Outside the chart, the action-comedy sequel THE HITMAN'S WIFE'S BODYGUARD disappeared along with sequel PETER RABBIT 2: THE RUNAWAY, musical drama IN THE HEIGHTS and R-rated road trip ZOLA.

Next weekend has some twists (probably) in M. Night Shyamalan's latest thriller OLD, while we learn more about the famous ninja soldier in SNAKE EYES: G.I. JOE ORIGINS.

Who is your favorite Looney Tunes character? VOTE HERE!