(AFP)
Lionsgate’s neo-noir action thriller “John Wick: Chapter 4” opened this weekend with North American ticket sales estimated at an impressive $73.5 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
Analyst David A. Gross called it “a superb opening,” noting that each Wick sequel has managed to outdo its predecessors.
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Reviews have been mostly positive: “Would that all action films were so well and cleanly choreographed,” the Washington Post gushed; but some reviewers saw the body count — more than 100 per bloody Wick movie — as a bit much.
“Chapter 4” owes its choreography largely to director Chad Stahelski, himself a former stunt man. Starring along with Reeves, in a tale that has the titular hitman fighting a powerful international crime group — are Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgard and Laurence Fishburne.
Last weekend’s box office leader, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” took in just $9.7 million, slipping to second place, in what Variety called “one of the worst turnouts for a modern superhero movie.” The DC/Warner Bros. film stars Zachary Levi, Asher Angel and Adam Brody.
In third spot was “Scream VI” from Paramount and Spyglass Media, at $8.4 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period. Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega and Skeet Ulrich star in the horror flick.
In fourth was yet another sequel, United Artists’ boxing drama “Creed III,” at $8.37 million. Michael B. Jordan directs and plays the title character; his co-star Jonathan Majors was arrested Saturday for allegedly assaulting a woman in a domestic dispute.
And in fifth, down one spot from last weekend, was sci-fi thriller “65” from Sony and Columbia Pictures, at $3.3 million. Adam Driver stars in a time-travel saga that juxtaposes space ships and dinosaurs.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” ($2.4 million)
“Cocaine Bear” ($2.1 million)
“Jesus Revolution” ($2 million)
“Champions” ($1.5 million)
“Avatar: The Way of Water” ($1.4 million)
