Rebecca Ferguson-Led Thriller Dethrones ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ at This Weekend’s Box Office

The weekend box office saw a mix of high-concept science fiction debuts, enduring animated sequels, and the return of a beloved fantasy trilogy to the silver screen. Amazon MGM Studios secured the top position with their latest action thriller, while Disney and 20th Century Studios maintained strong holds on high-ranking spots. Meanwhile, specialty re-releases and independent features continued to find their audience among domestic moviegoers. This varied slate of films demonstrates the current diversity of theatrical offerings and the steady engagement of the theater-going public.

‘The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants’ (2025)

‘The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants’ earned $965,000 this weekend, bringing its total domestic gross to nearly $70 million after six weeks in theaters. This animated adventure follows the titular character as he travels to the deepest parts of the ocean to confront the Flying Dutchman. The film is directed by Derek Drymon and features the long-standing voice cast from the original television series. Its performance reflects a steady decline as it nears the end of its theatrical run.

‘Clika’ (2026)

‘Clika’ debuted in theaters this weekend, earning $1,275,000 from 522 locations. Directed by Michael Greene, the film tells the story of a small-town musician who seeks to find his place in the Mexican-American music scene. The plot centers on the protagonist’s journey after a video of his performance becomes a viral sensation. This production features stars Jay Dee, Daniel Lopez, and Uziel Pantoja Delgado.

‘Anaconda’ (2025)

‘Anaconda’ saw a significant drop in its fifth week, collecting $1,300,000 for a cumulative total of over $62 million. This 2025 iteration serves as a reimagining of the classic creature feature franchise involving giant predatory snakes. The story typically involves a group of explorers who encounter legendary reptiles in a remote jungle setting. Despite the sharp 60.9% decline this weekend, the film has maintained a consistent presence in the top fifteen.

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ (2002)

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ returned to theaters for a special 2026 re-release, earning $1,600,000 over the weekend. Peter Jackson directed this epic fantasy installment, which continues the journey of the Fellowship after they have split into three groups. The film is renowned for its massive battle sequences, particularly the pivotal Siege of Helm’s Deep. It remains a landmark in cinematic history for its ground-breaking visual effects and adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s literary work.

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ pulled in $1,600,000 during its current limited re-engagement. This final chapter of the trilogy follows the final battle for Middle-earth and the completion of the journey to Mount Doom. Originally released in 2003, the film famously won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Its 2026 theatrical return allows fans to experience the conclusion of the epic saga on a large scale once again.

‘Primate’ (2025)

‘Primate’ brought in $1,640,000 during its third weekend of release, experiencing a 67.4% drop from the previous week. The Paramount Pictures production has now reached a total domestic gross of $23,502,877. This science-fiction horror film explores themes of animal experimentation gone wrong within a high-security facility. It has struggled to maintain its initial momentum as newer releases enter the competitive marketplace.

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ (2001)

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ earned $2,000,000 this weekend as part of the nationwide 2026 trilogy re-release. This film introduces the audience to the Shire, the Hobbits, and the formation of the group tasked with destroying the One Ring. Directed by Peter Jackson, it set the standard for modern fantasy filmmaking and intricate world-building. The re-release highlights the enduring popularity of the franchise twenty-five years after its debut.

‘Hamnet’ (2025)

‘Hamnet’ experienced a notable 48% increase in box office earnings this weekend, taking in $2,000,000. The film expanded its theater count significantly to 1,996 locations during its ninth week of theatrical release. Based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell, the story focuses on the life of William Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes, and the loss of their young son. Directed by Chloé Zhao, the production stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in the leading dramatic roles.

‘Return to Silent Hill’ (2025)

‘Return to Silent Hill’ opened this weekend with a total of $3,252,000 across 2,000 screens. This psychological horror film serves as a new adaptation of the popular video game ‘Silent Hill 2’. Director Christophe Gans, who helmed the original 2006 film, returns to the franchise for this installment. The narrative follows a man who travels back to the fog-shrouded town in search of his lost love.

‘Marty Supreme’ (2025)

‘Marty Supreme’ earned $3,546,857 in its sixth week, bringing its total domestic gross to over $86 million. The A24 production stars Timothée Chalamet as a professional table tennis player inspired by the life of Marty Reisman. Directed by Josh Safdie, the film captures the competitive atmosphere of mid-century New York. It has proven to be a consistent performer for the independent studio throughout its entire theatrical run.

’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ (2025)

’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ saw a steep 71.2% decline in its second weekend, earning $3,600,000. The film is part of the survival horror franchise established by Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland. It continues the story of a post-apocalyptic Britain decades after the initial outbreak of the Rage Virus. Despite the significant drop, the Sony Pictures release has already surpassed $20 million in total domestic earnings.

‘The Housemaid’ (2025)

‘The Housemaid’ added $4,200,000 to its domestic total this weekend, which now stands at more than $115 million. This psychological thriller from Lionsgate is an adaptation of the bestselling novel written by Freida McFadden. The plot follows a woman who takes a job as a live-in maid for a wealthy family only to discover dark secrets within the household. It stars Sydney Sweeney and has maintained strong box office legs through its sixth week.

‘Zootopia 2’ (2025)

‘Zootopia 2’ reached a major milestone this weekend, crossing the $400 million mark with an additional $5,700,000 in earnings. This Disney animated sequel reunites audiences with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they investigate a new mystery in the animal metropolis. The film explores themes of cooperation and understanding within a complex, diverse society. After nine weeks in theaters, it remains one of the highest-grossing films of the current season.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ (2025)

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ continued its run by earning $7,000,000, bringing its cumulative total to over $378 million. Directed by James Cameron, the third installment in the ‘Avatar’ series introduces the “Ash People,” a new clan of Na’vi on Pandora. The film utilizes high-frame-rate visuals and advanced motion-capture technology to depict the conflict between different cultures on the planet. It held the second-place spot despite a 51.7% decrease in weekly attendance.

‘Mercy’ (2026)

‘Mercy’ claimed the top spot at the box office this weekend with an opening gross of $11,100,000 from 3,468 theaters. This science fiction action thriller is directed by Timur Bekmambetov and produced by Charles Roven. The story features Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson in a futuristic setting where capital crime has drastically increased. As a new entry from Amazon MGM Studios, it marks a significant debut for the first weekend of the year. Other cast members include Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, and Kylie Rogers.

Tell us which of these box office hits you are planning to watch in the comments.