The top box office movies this week were led by a dominant debut from Avatar: Fire and Ash, which opened to an estimated $88 million at the domestic box office during the weekend ending December 21. Released by 20th Century Studios, the latest installment in James Cameron’s long-running franchise played in 3,800 theaters nationwide, delivering a strong $23,158 per-theater average and immediately positioning itself as the season’s top theatrical draw heading into the Christmas corridor.
Landing in second place was David, which earned $22.02 million in its opening weekend. The Angel Studios release played across 3,118 locations and posted a solid $7,061 per-theater average, continuing the studio’s recent streak of successful faith-based theatrical releases and demonstrating consistent audience demand during the holiday period.
Debuting in third place, Lionsgate’s psychological thriller The Housemaid grossed $19 million from 3,015 theaters. The film averaged $6,302 per location, benefiting from adult counterprogramming amid a marketplace largely driven by franchise and family titles.
Family audiences helped push The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants into fourth place with a $16 million opening weekend. Released by Paramount Pictures, the animated sequel played in 3,557 theaters and delivered a $4,498 per-theater average, bolstered by the start of winter break and strong brand recognition among younger viewers.
Rounding out the top five was Zootopia 2, which earned $14.5 million during its latest frame despite a 44 percent week-to-week decline. The Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures release continued its strong overall run, bringing its domestic total to approximately $282.8 million while playing in 3,540 theaters with a $4,096 per-theater average.
Overall, the December 21 box office reflected a healthy mix of blockbuster spectacle, family-friendly animation, and adult-oriented releases. With Avatar: Fire and Ash now anchoring the marketplace, exhibitors are expected to see sustained momentum through Christmas week as holiday moviegoing ramps up nationwide.
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