LOS ANGELES, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Universal Pictures' new thriller "Old" led ticket sales at the North American box office with an estimated 16.5 million U.S. dollars in its opening weekend, according to studio figures collected by measurement firm Comscore.
Inspired by the 2010 graphic novel Sandcastle by Pierre Oscar Levy and Frederik Peeters, the PG13-rated film follows a family on a tropical holiday who discover that the secluded beach where they are relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly and reducing their entire lives into a single day.
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the film stars an impressive international cast including Golden Globe winner Gael Garcia Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Abbey Lee, Aaron Pierre, Alex Wolff and Chinese American actor Ken Leung.
Shyamalan expressed his thanks to moviegoers who went to see the movie on opening days all over the world in a tweet.
"I can not express how much it means to all of us who made this story. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you," he tweeted.
"Old" has received mixed reviews so far. The film holds an approval rating of 52 percent based on 192 reviews to date on review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes and a "C+" on CinemaScore.
Another newcomer, Paramount's action-adventure film "Snake Eyes," opened in the second place with an estimated 13.35 million dollars.
Based on Hasbro's G.I. Joe media franchise and directed by Robert Schwentke, the film stars Henry Golding as Snake Eyes, a tenacious loner who is welcomed into an ancient Japanese clan called the Arashikage after saving the life of their heir apparent. Upon arrival in Japan, the Arashikage teach Snake Eyes the ways of the ninja warrior while also providing something he's been longing for: a home. But, when secrets from his past are revealed, Snake Eyes' honor and allegiance will be tested -- even if that means losing the trust of those closest to him.
The film has a 42 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and got a "B-" CinemaScore so far.
Disney and Marvel Studios' spy thriller "Black Widow" came in third place with 11.6 million dollars in its third weekend for a North American cume of 154.8 million dollars.
"Black Widow" is the fastest film to cross the 100-million-U.S.-dollar mark during the COVID-19 pandemic in North America.
Directed by Cate Shortland, Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow in the latest Marvel film. She confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
Warner Bros. Pictures' animated/live-action sports film "Space Jam: A New Legacy," starring NBA superstar LeBron James, landed in the fourth place with 9.56 million dollars in its second weekend for a North American total of 51.36 million dollars.
The film is a sequel to 1996's "Space Jam." The four-time NBA MVP James and his young son Dom are trapped in a digital space by a rogue A.I. in the film from director Malcolm D. Lee. He must get them home safe by teaming up with Bugs Bunny and the whole gang of notoriously undisciplined Looney Tunes to victory over the A.I.'s digitized champions on the court.
Universal's action film "F9: The Fast Saga" finished fifth with 4.7 million dollars, pushing its North American total to 163.39 million dollars.
Helmed by Chinese American director Justin Lin, the latest in Vin Diesel's on-going "Fast & Furious" franchise, his ode to fast cars and faster action, is based on a script co-written by Lin and Daniel Casey, and features an all-star line of Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, and others. Enditem