Welcome to the spring of sequels where Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire dominated the domestic box office over the Easter holiday weekend. The film secured the No. 1 spot with an impressive debut, making an estimated $80 million domestically. This fifth installment in Legendary’s MonsterVerse has propelled the franchise over the $2-billion mark in total earnings.
Internationally, The New Empire performed even better, raking in $114 million for a worldwide total of $194 million. Including preview screenings from Thursday, the film's four-day total reached $90 million domestically, marking it as the second-biggest opening in the MonsterVerse after 2014's Godzilla.
The success of The New Empire exceeded initial box office forecasts, contributing significantly to the second-biggest opening weekend of 2024 so far. Warner Bros. Domestic Distribution President praised the film as a 'huge, fun Easter movie for the whole family,' acknowledging the support from the production team and the exceptional marketing campaign.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire claimed the No. 2 spot with $15.7 million, despite a 65% drop in its second weekend. Dune: Part Two followed at No. 3 with $11.1 million, while Kung Fu Panda 4 took the No. 4 position with $10.2 million. The Top 5 was rounded out by Sydney Sweeney’s Immaculate horror film, which earned $3.3 million.
Meanwhile, Liam Neeson’s In the Land of Saints and Sinners landed outside the Top 10, securing the No. 11 spot with just over $1 million in earnings. The New Empire boasted the highest per-theater average over the weekend, with $20,720 per cinema.
Looking ahead, the romantic drama Someone Like You is set to open in theaters on April 2, followed by The First Omen beginning its theatrical run on April 5.
