Timothee Chalamet’s Dune: Part Two rocks North America box office debut

Warner Bros.’ latest science fiction spectacle, “Dune: Part Two,” soared to the pinnacle of the North American box office over the weekend, garnering an impressive $81.5 million, as reported by industry tracker Exhibitor Relations on Sunday.

Industry analyst David A. Gross hailed the film’s debut as a remarkable success for a sci-fi sequel, attributing part of its allure to a star-studded international cast featuring the likes of Anya Taylor-Joy, Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, and others.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, this sequel to the original “Dune” movie — itself an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel set on the harsh desert world of Arrakis — achieved the year’s biggest opening so far, significantly outperforming the first film’s debut. With an additional $97 million from international markets, “Dune: Part Two” has made a notable impact globally.

This robust opening performance pushed the previous box office leader, the Bob Marley biopic “Bob Marley: One Love” by Paramount, to second place with earnings of $7.4 million. Kingsley Ben-Adir portrays the legendary reggae musician in the film.

Coming in third place were new episodes from “The Chosen,” a faith-based series about Jesus Christ’s life, which brought in $3.9 million. Jonathan Roumie, born in Egypt, takes on the role of Jesus in this crowdfunded project.

“Lionsgate’s “Ordinary Angels,” a drama based on true events about a Kentucky hairdresser’s community effort to assist a family in need, earned $3.8 million for fourth place, with Hilary Swank leading the cast.

Sony’s “Madame Web,” a derivative of the Spider-Man universe featuring Dakota Johnson, secured the fifth spot, earning $3.2 million over the weekend.

The remainder of the top ten includes:

– “Migration” with $2.5 million
– “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba” at $2.1 million
– “Wonka” bringing in $1.7 million
– “Argylle” with $1.4 million
– “The Beekeeper” at $1.1 million