“Avatar: Fire and Ash Still Leads After 28 Years: Bone Temple”

In the ever-competitive landscape of the box office, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” continues to dominate, even after 28 years. The film maintained its position as the top-grossing movie during its fifth weekend of release. In contrast, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” struggled to meet expectations during its debut.

Box Office Performance Overview

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” earned $13.3 million over the weekend, bringing its total domestic revenue to $363.5 million. Globally, it has amassed an impressive $1.31 billion.

“The Bone Temple,” the latest installment in Sony’s “28 Days Later” franchise, generated only $13 million over the weekend. Its four-day debut is projected at $15 million, significantly below expectations of $20 million to $22 million for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Reasons Behind “The Bone Temple’s” Performance

• Critics highly rated “The Bone Temple” with a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A-” grade on CinemaScore.
• Despite positive reviews, the public may have been fatigued, appearing too soon after the previous release, “28 Years Later.”
• David A. Gross from Franchise Entertainment Research noted the quick succession may have negatively impacted viewer turnout.

Production Details and Cast

“The Bone Temple,” directed by Nia DaCosta and written by series creator Alex Garland, is the most expensive film in the franchise, costing $63 million to produce before marketing expenses. The storyline follows characters played by Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, and Alfie Williams as they navigate the dangers of a post-apocalyptic Britain devastated by a Rage Virus.

Performance of Other Films

Outside of the top ranks, several films also made headlines:

• No Other Choice: This dark comedy earned $2.2 million over the weekend, bringing its total to $6.9 million domestically.
• Hamnet: Directed by Chloe Zhao, this Shakespearean tragedy grossed $1.3 million over the weekend, totaling $15 million domestically.
• Dead Man’s Wire: The crime thriller generated $1 million in its debut, part of a broader expansion strategy.

Impact of Historical Franchise Success

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” is facing a steeper decline in revenue compared to its predecessors, “Avatar” (2009) and “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022), which earned $2.9 billion and $2.3 billion globally, respectively. The box office landscape in January tends to be slower, often influenced by films initially released during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

As the box office season unfolds, industry analysts will be keen to see how upcoming films perform in a marketplace that is rapidly evolving. “Avatar: Fire and Ash” continues to lead, but with fresh competition emerging, its position could be challenged in the weeks to come.