The animated film “Despicable Me 4” continued its reign at the North American box office for the second week in a row, surpassing $200 million in total earnings. However, the surprise of the weekend came from the horror movie “Longlegs,” which exceeded expectations by bringing in $22.6 million in its debut weekend, outperforming the star-studded romantic comedy “Fly Me to the Moon.”
“Longlegs,” a film about a serial killer starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage, was released by indie outfit Neon and marked the best opening for an R-rated film this year. On the other hand, “Fly Me to the Moon,” a film about a marketing executive involved in staging a fake moon landing, only managed to earn $10 million in its opening weekend, falling behind other box office hits like “Inside Out 2” and “A Quiet Place: Day One.”
In limited release, A24’s “Sing Sing,” a film about an arts program at a prison, garnered positive reviews and strong box office numbers in four theaters in New York and Los Angeles. The film is set to expand nationwide in August after its successful opening weekend. Additionally, “Twisters,” which opens in North America later this week, kicked off its international rollout with a solid $11.5 million from various markets.
Overall, the weekend box office results showed the continued success of animated films like “Despicable Me 4” and the potential for independent horror movies like “Longlegs” to make a splash among audiences. As the summer movie season heats up, these diverse offerings provide something for every type of moviegoer to enjoy. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest box office trends and hits in the coming weeks.