With COVID-19 fears again depressing North American moviegoing, new Warner Bros./DC superhero film The Suicide Squad led the weekend box office but took in only an estimated $26.6 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.
The movie, dubbed a pseudo-sequel to 2016's major hit Suicide Squad, again featured A-listers Margot Robbie and Viola Davis, but two big names from the earlier version—Will Smith and Jared Leto—sat this one out. The film's simultaneous release on HBO Max further hurt its box-office totals.
Hollywood has been struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels. "This is an unforgiving market," David Gross, who runs consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, told Variety.
Last week's box office leader, Disney's family-friendly adventure film Jungle Cruise, slipped to second spot, taking in $15.7 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, less than half its week-earlier total.
In third was Universal's psychological thriller Old, at $4.1 million. In fourth place, for the second straight week, was Disney Marvel superhero flick Black Widow starring Scarlett Johansson, which took in $4.0 million. And in fifth was Matt Damon film Stillwater from Focus Features, at $2.9 million.