'F9: The Fast Saga' remained at top speed over the weekend, earning an estimated $23.8 million to hold its lead in North American box offices, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday (July 4).
That total, covering just the first three days of the four-day July 4 holiday weekend, was down sharply from the zoom-bang-bam action film's opening total of $70 million.
Still, this ninth instalment in the 'Fast and Furious' franchise -- starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and John Cena -- fended off two strong new challengers. In fact, Universal pulled off a rare hat trick, dominating all three top box-office spots.
That studio's animated sequel 'The Boss Baby: Family Business' placed second, at $17.3 million. The latest yarn about a can-do "boss baby" who energizes -- or infuriates -- all around him features the voices of Alec Baldwin, Eva Longoria, Jeff Goldblum, Lisa Kudrow and Jimmy Kimmel.
In third was horror film 'The Forever Purge,' headed for a $12.8 million take. This fifth, and purportedly last, in the 'Purge' series is again set in a dystopian near-future where all crime, including murder, is made legal one day a year. Ana de la Reguera and Tenoch Huerta star.
Fourth spot went to Paramount's 'A Quiet Place: Part II,' at $4.2 million. This was the first weekend since the John Krasinski-directed horror film's release six weeks ago that it placed out of the top two.
And in fifth was a Lionsgate sequel, 'The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard,' at $3 million. The action comedy has Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek reprising their roles from 2017's 'The Hitman's Bodyguard.'
As Hollywood claws its way back from the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, studios have yet to release the usual full menu of summer blockbusters. The $70.7 million combined gross of this weekend's top 12 films was less than half the normal from past July 4 weekends.
Rounding out this weekend's top 10 were:
'Cruella' ($2.6 million)
'Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway' ($2.3 million)
'The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It' ($1.3 million)
'In the Heights' ($1.3 million)
'Zola' ($1.2 million)
Source: AFP
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