**Box Office Performance**: “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” struggled to compete with “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” which maintained its top position at the domestic box office during its fifth weekend.
**Opening Weekend Figures**: “The Bone Temple” earned $13 million over the weekend and is projected to reach $15 million over the four-day Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, falling short of expectations that ranged from $20 million to $22 million. It also grossed $16.2 million from 61 international markets, bringing its global total to $31.1 million.
**Franchise Reception**: The latest installment in Sony’s “28 Days Later” series received favorable reviews, scoring 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A-” CinemaScore. However, the studio might have misjudged audience interest since it was released less than a year after its previous episode, “28 Years Later,” which debuted with $30 million.
**Industry Insight**: According to box office analyst David A. Gross, although critical and audience ratings are the highest in the series, the quick turnaround since the last film has negatively impacted ticket sales.
**Production Costs**: Sony faces potential financial challenges as “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” is the most expensive film in the franchise at $63 million, not including marketing. Directed by Nia DaCosta and penned by creator Alex Garland, the film follows characters coping with a Rage Virus in a post-apocalyptic UK.
**Avatar’s Continued Success**: “Avatar: Fire and Ash” maintained its dominance with $13.3 million for the weekend and $17.2 million over the four-day period. The film has generated $363.5 million domestically and $1.31 billion globally but is losing momentum faster than earlier franchise entries.
**Additional Releases**: In the wider market, Neon’s dark comedy “No Other Choice” earned $2.2 million over the weekend, while Chloe Zhao’s “Hamnet” garnered $1.3 million. New release “Dead Man’s Wire” collected $1 million. The January box office typically sees slower activity, with several holiday favorites still performing well.
