Last Updated on August 2, 2021
Shazam! zaps into first place!
DC Comics' red-suited superhero flew into theaters this weekend and put SHAZAM! on top at the box office with an estimated opening of $53.4 million!
Including the previous preview screenings from a couple of weeks ago, the brawny alter-ego of troubled teen Billy Batson (Asher Angel) has a domestic total of $56.7 million.
In the pantheon of DC's cinematic "extended universe", SHAZAM! came out at the bottom behind the $67.8 million domestic start of AQUAMAN (Jason Momoa's oceanic hero continued swimming to an impressive $335 million domestic and $1.14 billion worldwide).
Imbued with the abilities of six incredible mythical beings, Zachary Levi's fledgling champion soared with an additional $102 million from international audiences for a worldwide total of $158.7 million.
Also featuring Djimon Hounsou and a villainous Mark Strong, the PG-13 adventure from director David F. Sandberg (LIGHTS OUT, ANNABELLE: CREATION) cost a reported $100 million.
Critics were delighted by the big-hearted debut of DC Comics' own Captain Marvel, giving the movie a 91% average on Rotten Tomatoes. Zip on over to the JoBlo reviews HERE and HERE.
Opening in second place was the R-rated horror movie PET SEMATARY with $25 million.
The new adaptation of Stephen King's chilling story couldn't come close to the $123.4 million start of the author's IT in 2017, but fared better than the $19.1 million opening for the screen version of THE DARK TOWER that same year.
Featuring John Lithgow and Jason Clarke, the rural terror also unearthed an additional $17.3 million from overseas territories for a worldwide weekend of $42.3 million. The spooky tale of resurrected animals and children cost a reported $21 million.
Critics didn't seem to be entirely digging the creepy update, giving the movie a 61% average on Rotten Tomatoes. Grab a shovel and exhume the JoBlo review HERE.
After climbing to the top last weekend, Disney's live-action DUMBO fell to third place with $18.2 million, a drop of 60% from its opening. The Tim Burton-directed elephant tale has a ten-day domestic total of $76.2 million, and has flapped to $213.7 million worldwide (the PG-rated remake cost a reported $170 million).
In fourth place was Jordan Peele's R-rated thriller US with $13.8 million, hitting a domestic total of $152.3 million on its fourth weekend. The $20 million horror story of killer counterparts has a worldwide total of $216.5 million.
Marvel's galactic warrior CAPTAIN MARVEL was in fifth place with $12.6 million, reaching a domestic total of $374.1 million after five weekends in theaters. The $170 million introduction of Brie Larson's space soldier has also zoomed past $1 billion worldwide.
In sixth place was the new PG-13 drama THE BEST OF ENEMIES with an opening of $4.5 million.
Starring Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson, the fact-based story of racial tensions in 1971 North Carolina cost a reported $10 million. Critics were divided on the depiction, giving it an average of 52% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The PG-13 teen drama FIVE FEET APART was in seventh place with $3.7 million, which takes the $7 million romance to $41.5 million domestic and $62.5 million worldwide after four weekends.
In eighth place was the anti-abortion drama UNPLANNED with $3.2 million, losing 50% of business from its opening last weekend for a ten-day domestic total of $12.4 million (the R-rated movie cost a reported $6 million).
At the bottom, the PG-rated animated animals of WONDER PARK were in ninth place with $2 million, followed by the animated sequel HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD with $1.9 million.
Outside the chart, R-rated drama HOTEL MUMBAI checked out with TYLER PERRY'S A MADEA FAMILY FUNERAL and the Matthew McConaughey comedy THE BEACH BUM, meandering out of sight after one weekend in the Top 10.
In limited release, the Robert Pattinson space-travel drama HIGH LIFE launched with a $25k per-screen average. Critics appreciated the sci-fi feature from Claire Denis, giving it an 89% average on Rotten Tomatoes. Drift over to the JoBlo review HERE.
Next weekend delivers R-rated carnage in a new version of HELLBOY, plus we get Laika's stop-motion animated MISSING LINK, the body-swapping comedy LITTLE and the romantic drama AFTER.
What is your favorite live-action version of a DC Comics hero? VOTE HERE!
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