Marvel’s latest film sees a sharp drop as a horror hit from Stephen King’s story surprises with strong numbers.
- Captain America: Brave New World drops 68% in its second weekend but holds the top spot with $28.3M.
- The Monkey opens to an impressive $14.2M, marking Neon’s second-best debut ever.
- Paddington in Peru 3 and Dog Man trail behind, while Ne Zha 2 continues to dominate globally.
Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World retained its No. 1 spot at the domestic box office with $28.3 million, but its steep 68% drop raises concerns. While some Marvel films have seen similar or worse declines, this fall follows a mixed audience response. The movie earned a B- CinemaScore—the lowest ever for an MCU film—casting doubt on its long-term success. Despite the decline, it continues to attract a diverse audience, especially young male viewers, though it remains uncertain whether it can fully recover.
Osgood Perkins’ horror film The Monkey delivered an unexpected success, debuting at No. 2 with $14.2 million. Loosely based on a Stephen King short story, the film follows a pair of twins and their eerie childhood toy. With a modest $10 million budget, its strong start marks the second-best opening in the history of indie distributor Neon, which is also behind awards frontrunner Anora.
Horror master Stephen King promoted the film heavily, even calling it “batshit insane.” Despite its financial success, the film received a C+ CinemaScore, a common trend for horror releases.
Neon’s distribution chief Elissa Federoff called The Monkey’s debut “phenomenal,” crediting Osgood Perkins, James Wan, and Stephen King for crafting a shocking, genre-bending experience. This is Perkins’ second major horror success following Longlegs, which debuted to $22.4 million.
The film’s strong start cements Neon’s position as a powerhouse in the horror space. Meanwhile, Brave New World continues its global rollout, adding $35.3 million overseas for a worldwide total of $289.4 million.
Further down the box office, Paddington in Peru 3 placed third with $6.5 million, while Dog Man followed with $5.9 million. Chinese animated phenomenon Ne Zha 2 earned $3 million domestically and has now grossed over $1.7 billion globally, making it the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
With Marvel’s latest film struggling and horror continuing to thrive, the shifting dynamics of the box office suggest audiences may be looking for fresh, genre-driven stories rather than familiar superhero narratives.
Conclusion
Netflix’s Squid Game became a global sensation, captivating audiences with its intense survival drama and sharp critique of capitalism. The show’s success has sparked discussions on international storytelling, proving that Korean entertainment continues to dominate the streaming landscape.
Meanwhile, actor Ethan Hawke has voiced his concerns about social media’s impact on creativity, arguing that constant online engagement stifles artistic expression. As audiences explore underrated action films and uncover fun facts about Japan, it’s clear that diverse narratives and unique cultural insights remain essential to entertainment.
