“Bone Temple Targets ‘Avatar 3’ for Box Office Supremacy”

The competition for box office supremacy is heating up as “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” looks to challenge “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” The latest addition to Sony’s dystopian franchise aims for a strong opening, targeting an estimated $20 million to $22 million in its four-day debut during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

Box Office Projections for “The Bone Temple”

The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Alex Garland, is the fourth film in the “28 Days Later” series. This installment picks up where its predecessor, “28 Years Later,” left off. The earlier film debuted last June, earning $30 million during its opening weekend and finishing with a total of $70 million domestically and $150 million worldwide against a $60 million budget.

Key Financial Details

• Budget for “The Bone Temple”: $63 million
• Projected debut: $20 million – $22 million
• Domestic total for “28 Years Later”: $70 million
• Global total for “28 Years Later”: $150 million

The Bone Temple returns familiar faces including Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, and Alfie Williams as they navigate a new chapter of the Rage Virus epidemic in a post-apocalyptic Britain. With strong early reviews—including a 94% average rating on Rotten Tomatoes—film analysts suggest the film could capitalize on limited competition.

Current Box Office Landscape

The reigning champion, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” is projected to earn $18 million to $19 million this weekend. Overall, the film has grossed an impressive $1.23 billion globally but faces a potential decline in the box office momentum that characterized its predecessors. The first two films held the number one position for seven consecutive weekends each.

Historical Context of “Avatar” Franchise

• “Avatar” (2009): $2.9 billion globally
• “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022): $2.3 billion globally

January is traditionally a slower month for cinemas, but this year features several anticipated releases. Notable upcoming films include “Mercy,” featuring Chris Pratt, Sam Raimi’s “Send Help,” and “Shelter,” starring Jason Statham.

Looking Ahead

As Hollywood gears up for the year ahead, analysts anticipate varying performance among these new films. “Patience will be a virtue as we await some of the bigger openers,” commented Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s head of marketplace trends.