The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard shoots to #1 at the weekend box office

The Hitman's Bodyguard sequel takes a seat on top!

Some R-rated action was the main attraction at the box office this weekend as THE HITMAN'S WIFE'S BODYGUARD opened in first place with an estimated $11.7 million.

The sequel, which now finds Ryan Reynolds assisting both Samuel L. Jackson's assassin and his lethal spouse Salma Hayek, has collected $17 million domestic since it opened on Wednesday.

Again directed by Patrick Hughes, the new Lionsgate release cost a reported $70 million. The first THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD in 2017 had a similar budget and finished with $75 million domestic and $183 million worldwide.

The follow-up, which this time also features Morgan Freeman, Frank Grillo, Antonio Banderas and Richard E. Grant, has a worldwide total of $23.7 million.

Critics didn't seem particularly amused by the shooting and shenanigans, giving the movie a 25% average on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 32 on Metacritic. Take aim at the JoBlo review HERE.

Skulking back down to second place was the PG-13 horror-thriller A QUIET PLACE: PART II with $9.4 million over its fourth weekend, after slipping into  the top spot last week.

The $61 million Paramount sequel with Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou has a domestic total of $125.2 million and $222 million worldwide.

Still hopping in third place was the PG-rated comedy PETER RABBIT 2: THE RUNAWAY with $6.1 million, shedding 40% of business from its domestic opening last weekend. Sony's $45 million animated/live-action sequel has a ten-day domestic total of $20.3 million and $90.8 million worldwide.

Also gripping its spot from last week was the R-rated supernatural thriller THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT in fourth place with $5.15 million. After three weekends in theaters (and streaming on HBO Max), the Warner Bros. horror sequel has a domestic total of $53.6 million and $142.7 million worldwide, on a reported $39 million cost.

Vamping in fifth place once again was Disney's live-action prequel CRUELLA with $5.1 million on its fourth weekend in theaters. The PG-13 release (also on Disney+ for a $30 Premier charge) has a domestic total of $64.7 million and $160 million worldwide.

The PG-13 musical IN THE HEIGHTS sang a sad song in sixth place with $4.2 million over its second weekend, stumbling by 63% from last week's opening.

The $55 million Warner Bros. drama (also simultaneously released on HBO Max) based on the Lin-Manuel Miranda Broadway show has a ten-day domestic total of $20.3 million.

In seventh place was the PG-rated animated DreamWorks movie SPIRIT UNTAMED with $1.6 million. After three weekends, the $30 million Universal release has a domestic total of $13.8 million and $17.3 million worldwide.

Joining the huddle in eighth place was the PG-13 football drama 12 MIGHTY ORPHANS with $870,000 as it expanded from limited release to 1000 locations. Sony's inspirational fact-based sports story with Luke Wilson, Robert Duvall and Martin Sheen has a ten-day domestic total of $1.25 million.

Keeping its position in ninth place was the R-rated horror-comedy THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR: MEET THE BLACKS 2 with $604,000, giving the sequel a ten-day domestic total of $2.01 million.

Closing out the list was director Guy Ritchie's R-rated action-thriller WRATH OF MAN with $447,000 on its seventh weekend for a domestic total of $26.3 million and a worldwide total of $92 million.

Outside the chart, SHAUN OF THE DEAD director Edgar Wright's music documentary THE SPARKS BROTHERS was released on 534 screens for $265,000 for the weekend.

Next week has F9: THE FAST SAGA zooming in to domestic theaters, already carrying $292 million from its international release. The latest Liam Neeson geriaction movie THE ICE ROAD will compete for attention.

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