Theater counts: two newcomers arrive for Thanksgiving, but Wakanda Forever stays widest release

November 23, 2022

On the eve of the Thanksgiving Holiday, two Walt Disney movies dominate this week’s widest release list with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever once again sitting at the top, showing this week in 4,258 theaters (and sitting comfortably with nearly $600 million in worldwide earnings). Wakanda Forever will try to fend off studio relative Strange World and the high-flying Korean War aerial drama Devotion at the box office.

Making its theatrical debut in a solid 4,174 cinemas is Strange World. The animated comedy-adventure introduces a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they attempt to navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew that includes a mischievous blob, a three-legged dog and a slew of ravenous creatures. Don Hall directs an all-star voice cast which includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, and Gabrielle Union among others.

Appearing for the first time in 3,405 venues, Devotion enters as the third-widest release this week. The biographical Korean War drama stars Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell as Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner respectively, two elite fighter pilots who become the U.S. Navy’s most celebrated wingmen during the Korean War. Directed by J.D. Dillard and based on the book “Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice” by Adam Makos, the aerial feature charts the pilot’s heroic sacrifices and enduring friendship during the so-called “Forgotten War.”

Rounding out the top five this week is The Menu, which debuted on Friday and currently sits with just over $10 million in domestic earnings after four days at the box office. The black comedy adds 17 locations today, bringing this week’s count to 3,228 and good enough for fourth place on the mid-week list. Lastly, Black Adam drops 525 locations this week, settling in 2,847 movie houses.

In sixth spot, Bones and All expands into 2,727 theaters today. Its dark escapism might give it a shot at pulling off an opening similar to The Menu’s $9-million debut last weekend.

Also noteworthy is The Chosen, which was originally intended to run until November 22 but is being rebooked by some theaters on account of its excellent performance so far. It’ll lose theaters on Wednesday and Thursday as the theaters are committed to booking the new releases, but is expected to bounce back on Friday as some older films end their runs. We aren’t venturing a guess as to how many theaters it’ll be playing in, but it will still be a factor at the box office.

New in limited release this week is the latest from Neon Films in All The Beauty And The Bloodshed. Appearing in three cinemas, the documentary is a story about internationally renowned artist and activist Nan Goldin told through her slideshows, intimate interviews, ground-breaking photography, and rare footage of her personal fight to hold the Sackler family accountable for the overdose crisis. Showing in one theater on Friday is the Filipino comedy Leonor Will Never Die. The 2022 Sundance Film Festival entry stars Sheila Francisco as a retired screenwriter who, after falling into a coma, finds herself the action hero of her unfinished screenplay.

Note: Our theatrical predictions will be taking the week off for Thanksgiving, but we’ll be back as usual next weekend.

Looking ahead to next week we see the debut of Christmas action-comedy, Violent Night. The film starring David Harbour as Santa Claus is expected to arrive in about 3,500 movie houses.

Theater Counts for November 23

Theater Counts for November 25

Estimates for December 2

Bruce Nash

Filed under: Theater Counts, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Harbour, Gabrielle Union, Glen Powell, J.D. Dillard, Jonathan Majors, Sheila Francisco, Adam Makos, Nan Goldin