Theater counts: billion-dollar Barbie remains widest release for the third consecutive week

August 10, 2023

As the Summer season begins to wind down, there seems to be no stopping Barbie at the box office. Since making its debut on July 21, the film has become a worldwide phenomenon, capturing well over $1 billion in earnings in only 20 days in global cinemas. The movie also places director Greta Gerwig as the only female in the billion-dollar club with sole credit for directing a film. Like last week, Barbie should have little problem staying atop the box office charts this week, but there are a couple of fresh names to this week’s list in the way of The Last Voyage of the Demeter, and Jules

The latest feature from Paramount Pictures, The Last Voyage of the Demeter follows the strange and horrifying events of the doomed crew of the Demeter as they are stalked each night by a merciless presence aboard the ship. Beginning its run in 2,715 theaters, the film is based on a chapter from the famous novel Dracula, by horror icon Bram Stoker, and is directed by André Øvredal.

Also making its first appearance in theaters is the sci-fi comedy, Jules, starring Ben Kingsley, Jane Curtin, and Harriet Sansom Harris. Available in 780 venues, the film follows Milton (Kingsley) who lives a quiet life of routine in a small western Pennsylvania town, but finds his day upended when a UFO and its extra-terrestrial passenger crash land in his backyard. Marc Turtletaub directs from a script by Gavin Steckler.

Rounding out the top five this week is the aforementioned Barbie, keeping its 4,178 theaters count from last week. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, increasing its availability by 92 locations, for a total of 3,950 theaters. Next up is another big performer in Oppenheimer, adding 149 locations this week for a total of 3,761 theaters. Occupying the fourth widest release this week is last week’s newcomer in Meg 2: The Trench, playing in 3,604 locations. Finally, bringing up the rear is Haunted Mansion, showing in 2,860 theaters.

Per usual, a large amount of limited releases are making their way into domestic theaters this week. Residing in 22 locations is the sci-fi mystery drama, Aporia, starring Judy Greer as a grief-ridden widow who builds a time-bending machine that could restore her former life. Making its way back to the big screen at the IFC Center in New York is the 2001 horror hit, The Others, starring Nicole Kidman.

Looking ahead to next week we see things pick up again with the release of Strays, and Blue Beetle, the former is expected to arrive in approximately 3,000 locations while the latter will debut in about 3,900 theaters.

Theater Counts for August 11

Estimates for August 18

Filed under: Theater Counts, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Barbie, Jane Curtin, Greta Gerwig, Harriet Sansom Harris, Ben Kingsley, Marc Turtletaub, André Øvredal, Bram Stoker