Movie

The horror film about a rented home leads the domestic chart as it opens to an estimated $10 million, way beyond another newcomer, 'Brahmastra Part One: Shiva'.

• Sep 12, 2022

AceShowbiz - "Barbarian" has killed off competition at the North American box office amid ongoing sluggish business. The horror film from Zach Cregger easily tops the chart with just an estimated $10 million on its debut weekend.

David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, thinks the number is "a good opening" for an original, low-budget horror story. "The weekend figure is somewhat above average and reviews are sensational," he said. "These are relatively inexpensive and profitable movies that are enjoyed best on a big screen."

The film, starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard and Justin Long, is benefitting from positive reviews from critics despite landing a tepid C+ CinemaScore. The twisty thriller holds an approval rating of 92% based on 93 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10.

The site's consensus states, "Smart, darkly humorous and above all scary, Barbarian offers a chilling and consistently unpredictable thrill ride for horror fans." And as it keeps people talking, the movie is likely to keep filling seats during a dry September at the box office.

"Barbarian" fends off fellow new release "Brahmastra Part One: Shiva", which lands on the second place with an estimated $4.4 million on its opening weekend. The first in a three-part Bollywood film franchise earned its first weekend gross from only 810 theaters, averaging $5,432 per theater which isn't shabby at all.

The Indian fantasy-adventure film takes place in modern-day India and follows Shiva, a young man who learns that he has a mysterious connection to a secret society called Brahmansh. The movie received mixed reviews from critics with praise for the visual effects, score, action sequences and criticism for the story and dialogues.

"Bullet Train" places third with an estimated $3.2 million, followed by "Top Gun: Maverick" which dives down to No. 4 with approximately $3.17 million after becoming the highest-grossing movie of 2022 so far. "DC League of Super-Pets" rounds out the top five with an estimated addition of $2.8 million to its domestic gross.

Top 10 of North America Box Office (Sep. 09-11, 2022):

1. "Barbarian" - $10 million
2. "Brahmastra Part One: Shiva" - $4.4 million
3. "Bullet Train" - $3.2 million
4. "Top Gun: Maverick" - $3.2 million
5. "DC League of Super-Pets" - $2.8 million
6. "The Invitation (2022)" - $2.6 million
7. "Lifemark" - $2.2 million
8. "Beast" - $1.8 million
9. "Minions: The Rise of Gru" - $1.6 million
10. "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (2022 Re-release) - $1.3 million