28 Years Later: Avatar 3 Conquers the Box Office with $15M MLK Weekend Debut

28 Years Later: The Temple of Bonesis exceeding expectations as the only new wide release at the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday box office, where returning films are performing wellAvatar: Fire and Ashwill secure the four-day weekend.

Sony’s The Bone Templeis aiming to secure $15 million over the four-day period, and a $13 million three-day total. That’s significantly behind the first one.28 Years, which debuted with a $30 million three-day total in June, and following the $20 million four-day forecasted figure forBone Temple going into the weekend.

Avatar 3, now in its fifth weekend, is projected to take the top spot with a $17 million four-day total. To date, the movie has earned $353.4 million within the country and over $1.23 billion worldwide.

The 28 Years Laterfranchise comes from director Boyle and writer Alex Garland, who brought the movie series to Sony following a fierce competition. FilmmakerNia DaCosta is behind the camera.for Bone Temple, the second installment in an intended trilogy, with Sony stating last month that it willmake a third installmentwith Cillian Murphy – star of the original28 Days Later– with Boyle making a return to direct. It remains unclear how this opening weekend might affect that equation.

Sony insiders are optimistic that positive reviews could provideBone Templelegs. The film received excellent reviews (94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), an A- CinemaScore (uncommon for a horror movie), and a 4.5 PostTrak rating.Bone Templestars Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell,Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman and Chi Lewis-Parry.

Disney’s animated juggernaut Zootopia 2, now in its eighth weekend, is ranked at No. 3 with an estimated $11.6 million, raising its domestic total to $392.8 million.

Lionsgate’s The Housemaid dropped by 22 percent during its fifth weekend, and is projected to rank fourth with $10.1 million over the four-day period, increasing its total domestic earnings to $108.7 million.

Filmmaker Josh Safdie’s Marty Supremelands in 5th place. It has been antop performer since its Christmas debut, and observers were interested to see if it would receive a boost afterTimothée Chalamet’s best actor victory Timothée Chalamet’s triumph as best actor Timothée Chalamet’s achievement as top actor Timothée Chalamet’s success in best actor category Timothée Chalamet’s honor as best actor Timothée Chalamet’s recognition as leading actor Timothée Chalamet’s win for best actor Timothée Chalamet’s accomplishment in best actor award Timothée Chalamet’s victory in the best actor category Timothée Chalamet’s accolade as best actor at the GlobesIt is expected to generate approximately $6.9 million over the four-day period, which would push the domestic total to a successful $80 million.

And Chloé Zhao’s Hamnetexpands after it wonbest television drama at the Golden GlobesJanuary 11, featuring an Oscar hopefulJesse Buckley receiving the best actress awardThe movie, which had a limited release during Thanksgiving, increased its showing to 718 theaters this weekend and is projected to earn $1.6 million over the four-day period, raising its total in the United States to $15 million. Focus Features intends to expand its reach after the Oscar nominations are revealed.

This tale was first published on January 17 at 8:15 a.m.