Bringing spice to a so-far lean movie year, Warner Bros.’ new sci-fi film Dune: Part Two shot to the top of the North American box office this weekend, taking in an estimated $81.5 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
Denis Villeneuve’s epic sequel to the original Dune – based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel about war and survival on the deeply inhospitable desert planet of Arrakis – saw the young year’s largest opening, roughly doubling the original film’s opening. Dune: Part Two, which stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Lea Seydoux, and Javier Bardem, has taken in an additional $97 million abroad.
Its strong opening left the box office leader of the past two weekends, Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love, in the dust – or sand – as the biopic took in just $7.4 million for second place. British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir stars as the iconic reggae singer.
In third were the latest episodes of Fathom Events and Angel Studios’ faith-based The Chosen, on the life of Jesus Christ, at $3.9 million. Egyptian-born Jonathan Roumie plays Jesus in the crowdfunded series.
Fourth spot went to Lionsgate’s true-life drama Ordinary Angels, at $3.8 million. Hilary Swank stars as a Kentucky hairdresser who rallies her town to help a widower with a gravely ill daughter.
Sony’s Madame Web, a Spider-Man spinoff starring Dakota Johnson, placed fifth for the weekend at $3.2 million.