Theater counts: Creed III fends off a trio of new wide releases to stay on top

March 9, 2023

Boxing drama Creed III opened last weekend and delivered a knockout at the box office, scoring an impressive $58.37 million, not only making it the franchise’s top opening weekend, but the top opening weekend in history for a sports-themed movie, narrowly topping 2010’s The Karate Kid. Despite having its hands full with three new wide releases making their theatrical debuts, the film keeps its opening theater count of 4,007 cinemas heading into its second week, once again making it the widest release of the week.

The largest of the new releases this week, (and the film most likely to topple Creed III from the top of the box office charts) is another franchise favorite in Scream VI. The latest in the slasher series begins its theatrical run in 3,675 movie houses and brings back a plethora of stars from the previous films, as well as a host of newcomers as they attempt to survive the wrath of Ghostface.

Also opening in wide release this week is the sci-fi action-thriller 65. The film stars Adam Driver and Ariana Greenblatt as the only two survivors of a collision on earth, 65 million years ago. The duo must travel over a dangerous and uncharted land, battling deadly prehistoric beasts in order to survive. Directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, 65 opens in 3,405 theaters across North America.

Lastly, making its theatrical debut in 3,028 locations this week is the basketball comedy Champions. Directed by Bobby Farrelly in his solo directorial debut, the film stars Woody Harrelson as a former minor-league basketball coach who, after a series of missteps, is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities.

Rounding out the top five this week is Cocaine Bear, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The former, which currently enjoys a domestic haul of $44.64 million, loses 375 theaters this week, but is still widely available in 3,196 venues. The latter takes the fifth spot this week with 3,105 locations and currently stands at $190 million in domestic earnings and $232.42 million overseas for a global total of over $422 million.

Looking ahead to next week we see the launch of the follow-up to 2019’s Shazam! in Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Projected to debut in over 4,000 cinemas, the latest in the DCEU and Shazam! franchises returns Zachary Levi as Billy Batson (aka Shazam) as he and his foster siblings are thrust into a battle for their superpowers against the vaunted Daughters of Atlas.

Note: The theater count for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Swordsmith Village is an estimate from Box Office Pro.

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Theater Counts for March 17

Bruce Nash

Filed under: Theater Counts, Scream, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ant-Man, DC Extended Universe, Shazam, Creed, Bobby Farrelly, Woody Harrelson, Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt