Movie theaters were looking for a savior and 害羞草研究所淒une: Part Two害羞草研究所� is delivering on the promise. Armed with sandworms, big screen spectacle and the star power of Timoth茅e Chalamet, Denis Villeneuve害羞草研究所檚 science fiction epic stormed the North American box office this weekend earning $81.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Internationally, it earned $97 million, bringing its global debut to $178.5 million.

害羞草研究所淒enis made a really extraordinary and special film and its been really exciting to see people respond,害羞草研究所� said Mary Parent, a producer on both 害羞草研究所淒une害羞草研究所� films and chairman of worldwide production at Legendary. 害羞草研究所淚t was made for the big screen and it feels like it害羞草研究所檚 being received as a cinematic event.害羞草研究所�

It害羞草研究所檚 the first major hit of 2024, and one that was sorely needed by exhibitors. Although there have been holdovers from December that have continued to earn, like Warner Bros.害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Wonka 害羞草研究所� (also starring Chalamet) and Sony害羞草研究所檚 romantic comedy 害羞草研究所淎nyone But You,害羞草研究所� the box office is in a bit of a drought. In the first two months of 2024, no films have crossed $100 million domestically. The highest earning movies have been 害羞草研究所淭he Beekeeper,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淏ob Marley: One Love害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淢ean Girls.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淒une 2害羞草研究所� rode a wave of great reviews (94% on Rotten Tomatoes) into a marketplace that was essentially free of competition. Warner Bros. released it in 4,071 locations in the U.S. and Canada, where audiences across the board gave it the highest PostTrak marks and an A CinemaScore. According to exit data, men accounted for 59% of opening weekend ticket buyers and 64% were over the age of 25. The sequel was primarily financed by Legendary and its production budget, previously reported to be in the $122 million range, is closer to $190 million.

害羞草研究所淚t really captured the marketplace,害羞草研究所� said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a cultural moment globally.害羞草研究所�

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Premium large format screens like IMAX and 70mm accounted for 48% of the opening weekend business. It marked a March record for IMAX, which made up $18.5 million of the overall take. Villeneuve filmed the movie using IMAX cameras. Unlike 害羞草研究所� Oppenheimer,害羞草研究所� it was shot on digital, but with the extra time with the strike delay they were able to make film prints as well and the film format is proving a popular draw for audiences.

害羞草研究所淥ur most iconic film locations are virtually sold out for weeks,害羞草研究所� said IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond.

The $81.5 million debut is also a record for its director Villeneuve, and stars Chalamet, Austin Butler and Rebecca Ferguson.

Originally planned for an October 2023 release, Warner Bros. bumped the movie to March amid the Hollywood strikes that would have prevented its starry cast from doing the promotional circuit. The global promo tour has been on hyperdrive for about a month, driving conversations with buzzy interviews, the viral sandworm-inspired popcorn bucket and eye-popping fashion moments from the stylish young cast 害羞草研究所� peaking with Zendaya害羞草研究所檚 silver cyborg showstopper (vintage Mugler) in London. They害羞草研究所檝e made stops in Mexico City, South Korea, Abu Dhabi and New York City.

害羞草研究所淲e worked very hard to be ready for that (original) date but we very much felt that, especially with this incredible cast, that it was worth waiting for,害羞草研究所� Parent said.

Goldstein added that there was 害羞草研究所渁 lot of debate害羞草研究所� over whether or not to release it during the strikes but they knew that they needed the cast to 害羞草研究所渇ully realize the movie.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淵ou don害羞草研究所檛 make movie stars any place other than theaters,害羞草研究所� Goldstein said. 害羞草研究所淐inemas, on the big screen with the big sound and that shared experience makes a big star, or show the talent of a big star anyway.害羞草研究所�

The first 害羞草研究所� Dune 害羞草研究所� opened under complicated conditions in October 2021. It was one of the last films of Warner Bros.害羞草研究所� divisive plan to simultaneously debut its major movies in theaters and on its streaming platform. And yet it still earned over $40 million in its first weekend and went on to gross over $400 million worldwide.

害羞草研究所淒enis Villeneuve is up there with Christopher Nolan as a filmmaker whose name alone inspires people to go to the movie theater,害羞草研究所� said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore.

This weekend, he added, 害羞草研究所渕oves the needle in a big way.害羞草研究所�

Going into the weekend the box office was down about 20% from the same point last year (when 害羞草研究所淎vatar: The Way of Water,害羞草研究所� a 2022 release, was lifting everything). The closest equivalent this year is 害羞草研究所淲onka,害羞草研究所� still a hit, but not as big as 害羞草研究所淎vatar 2.害羞草研究所� After the 害羞草研究所淒une害羞草研究所� weekend, the deficit will be closer to 13%.

害羞草研究所淚t shows how important one movie can be to the overall health of the industry,害羞草研究所� Dergarabedian said. 害羞草研究所淏ut this is not a one-hit wonder for March. It害羞草研究所檚 a momentum business. Now we害羞草研究所檙e going to get the wind back in the sails as we head further into March, April and the summer movie season.害羞草研究所�

Warner Bros. is one of those studios that will be back in short order with another big film, in 害羞草研究所淕odzilla x Kong害羞草研究所� at the end of March, followed by 害羞草研究所淔uriosa害羞草研究所� in May, the 害羞草研究所淏eetlejuice害羞草研究所� sequel in September and the 害羞草研究所淛oker害羞草研究所� sequel in October.

害羞草研究所淭his is our year,害羞草研究所� Goldstein said. 害羞草研究所淓xhibitors are fighting for their lives but we can be clever and collaborative with them to keep our business relevant to audiences.害羞草研究所�

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. 害羞草研究所淒une: Part Two,害羞草研究所� $81.5 million.

2. 害羞草研究所淏ob Marley: One Love,害羞草研究所� $7.4 million.

3. 害羞草研究所淥rdinary Angels,害羞草研究所� $3.9 million.

4. 害羞草研究所淢adame Web,害羞草研究所� $3.2 million.

5. 害羞草研究所淭he Chosen: Season 4, Episodes 7-8,害羞草研究所� $3.2 million.

6. 害羞草研究所淢igration, $2.5 million.

7. 害羞草研究所淒emon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba 害羞草研究所� To the Hashi,害羞草研究所� $2.1 million.

8. 害羞草研究所淲onka,害羞草研究所� $1.7 million.

9. 害羞草研究所淎rgylle,害羞草研究所� $1.4 million.

10. 害羞草研究所淭he Beekeeper,害羞草研究所� $1.1 million.

Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press