AceShowbiz - There's a new face in town and it easily became a new champion at the domestic box office. "Scream VI" has topped this weekend's chart with an estimated $44.5 million from ticket sales in North America.

It marks the best domestic debut in the "Scream" franchise, surpassing the previous series high of $32 million that "Scream 2" opened with in 1997. It also exceeds expectations that it would open in the range of $35-40 million from 3,670 theaters in its opening weekend.

Internationally, the sixth installment in the slasher film series is also killing it. The new movie, which is set in New York City instead of the fictional town of Woodsboro, rakes in $22.5 million from 53 overseas market for a current worldwide total of $67.1 million. It's made on a reported modest budget of around $33-35 million.

"Scream VI" easily scares off last week's champion "Creed III" from the first spot, knocking it down to No. 2. The boxing drama movie added an estimated $27.2 million in its second weekend, sprinting past $100 million domestically in just 10 days.

Internationally, the third "Creed" movie beat "Scream VI" with $24 million from 75 markets for a total foreign cume of $78 million. It has so far grossed $179.4 million worldwide against its reported budget of $75 million.

Elsewhere on the domestic chart, another newcomer, "65", arrives at No. 3 with approximately $12.3 million. Directed by "A Quiet Place" writers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the sci-fi pic stars Adam Driver as a space explorer stranded on prehistoric Earth, which is infested with dinosaurs and other dangerous prehistoric beasts.

"Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" is down two places to No. 4 with an estimated $7 million as it continues to suffer a sizable decline (45.4% from last week). It has raked in $197.97 million domestically for a current worldwide total of $249.6 million.

"Cocaine Bear" also continues to lose its steam, dropping from No. 3 to No. 5 with approximately $6.2 million (44.3%). The movie has grossed $51.7 million domestically and $65.7 million globally in its third week.

Top 10 of North America Box Office (Mar. 10-12, 2023):

1. "Scream VI" - $44.5 million
2. "Creed III" - $27.2 million
3. "65" - $12.3 million
4. "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" - $7 million
5. "Cocaine Bear" - $6.2 million
6. "Jesus Revolution" - $5.17 million
7. "Champions" - $5.15 million
8. "Avatar: The Way of Water" - $2.7 million
9. "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" - $1.6 million
10. "Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre" - $1.3 million