“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” British star Tom Holland’s third solo outing in the wildly popular role, has grossed US$467.3 million in North America and US$587 million internationally, raking in more than US$1 billion over 12 days and proving analysts’ predictions that it could reach the milestone sum.
It rocketed to that benchmark at a speed only matched by 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” according to industry outlet Variety, and comes even as the rapid spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant casts a pall over holiday outings worldwide.
Sony’s latest instalment to the comic-inspired series took an estimated $81.5 million in North America for the three-day period over the Christmas weekend, holding its top spot after scoring the third-biggest domestic opening of all time with more than US$260 million, smashing early estimates.
Its debut box office sales trailed only 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” (US$357 million) and the previous year’s “Avengers: Infinity War” (US$258 million), according to the BoxOfficeMojo website.
With an estimated US$23.8 million, “Sing 2,” Universal’s star-studded animated jukebox musical follow-up to “Sing,” was this weekend’s runner-up.
It beat out two other new series installments: “The Matrix Resurrections” from Warner Bros, which sees Keanu Reeves reprise his iconic role as Neo, underperformed at US$12 million.
In fourth place, also earning less than expected, was 20th Century’s spy prequel to the “Kingsman” films, “The King’s Man,” with US$6.4 million.
Lionsgate’s “American Underdog” – based on the true story of Kurt Warner, who went from stocking shelves at a grocery store to National Football League MVP – slid in at number five on its opening weekend with an estimated US$6.2 million.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
- “West Side Story” (US$2.8 million)
- “Licorice Pizza” (US$2.3 million)
- “A Journal for Jordan” (US$2.2 million)
- “Encanto” (US$2 million)
- “83” (US$1.8 million)