Here Are the Weekend Box Office Hits for This Weekend, with the New Animated Film Leading the Pack

Despite the lingering effects of the President’s Day holiday, families still went to the movies this weekend, though movies geared towards adults saw a noticeable decrease in viewers. Sony’s animated comedy ‘GOAT’ remained the top film for a second week, beating out a new faith-based movie and an adaptation of a book that received mixed reviews. Interestingly, smaller, independent films from A24 and Neon performed well despite being shown in fewer theaters, suggesting audiences are still interested in diverse and unique films alongside big-budget blockbusters.

‘Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert’ (2026)

Renowned fight choreographer Yuen Woo-ping is back with a new film based on the popular Chinese comic ‘Biaoren’. The movie stars Wu Jing as a talented mercenary working along the Silk Road who takes on a risky job protecting someone, which quickly pulls him into a political plot during China’s Sui Dynasty. Released in 184 theaters by Well Go USA, the martial arts action film earned $760,000 during its opening weekend. The film’s strong $4,130 per-theater average shows it connected with audiences who enjoy exciting fight scenes and historical stories.

‘2026 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Animation’ (2026)

With the Academy Awards just around the corner, audiences now have a chance to see the films nominated for Best Animated Short. This year’s collection includes a variety of animation styles and stories, from stop-motion to traditional hand-drawn techniques. Shown in 354 theaters by Roadside Attractions, the collection earned over $1 million during the weekend, averaging a strong $2,833 per theater. This demonstrates continued public interest in animated shorts during awards season.

‘Dracula’ (2026)

Luc Besson reimagines the classic Dracula story with a visually stunning and romantic horror film. Caleb Landry Jones plays the Count, focusing on the character’s tragic and gothic love story. The movie earned $1,327,837 in its third week, a 54.8% decrease due to competition from new films. Released by Vertical Entertainment, it has now made $11,450,329 domestically, attracting a consistent audience with its unique style.

‘Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die’ (2026)

Director Gore Verbinski’s new sci-fi comedy features Sam Rockwell as a time traveler who gathers a group of ordinary people to help him save the world. The movie, which also stars Michael Peña and Zazie Beetz, involves a complicated timeline and a battle against a dangerous artificial intelligence. While visually impressive and boasting a well-known cast, the film earned $1,550,000 in its second weekend, for a total of $6,580,121 domestically. However, it experienced a significant 57.5% drop in ticket sales, making it difficult to compete with more family-friendly movies.

‘Psycho Killer’ (2026)

The new horror-thriller from 20th Century Studios is the first film directed by producer Gavin Polone, based on a screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker. Georgina Campbell plays a police officer tracking a serial killer, known as the “Satanic Slasher” and portrayed by James Preston Rogers, who previously murdered her husband. The film opened with $1.6 million in revenue from 1,100 theaters, a disappointing result likely due to poor reviews and uninspired advertising. With an average of just $1,454 per theater, the movie didn’t stand out in a competitive field of horror films.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ (2026)

James Cameron’s latest Avatar movie is still attracting viewers ten weeks after it first came out. The film features a new, more warlike group of Na’vi called the Ash People, and follows the Sully family’s ongoing story on the world of Pandora. It earned $1.8 million this weekend, bringing its total earnings in the US and Canada to an impressive $399.4 million. Although ticket sales have slowed, the movie’s stunning visuals continue to bring people to the theater, allowing 20th Century Studios to stay in the top ten films weeks after its December release.

‘Zootopia 2’ (2026)

The latest Disney film brings back Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they investigate a new case involving the reptiles of their city. The animated sequel continues to perform well, having earned $2.3 million in its thirteenth week. With a total domestic gross of over $423.9 million, the movie is a huge hit for Disney. Its popularity with families has allowed it to stay in 1,820 theaters even months after it first came out.

‘Solo Mio’ (2026)

In this charming romantic comedy, Kevin James plays a teacher who, after being left at the altar, bravely decides to take his planned honeymoon to Italy by himself. The film, distributed by Angel Studios, is a funny and touching story about finding yourself, and features Nicole Grimaudo as a local shopkeeper he meets along the way. It earned over $2.5 million during its third weekend, bringing its total box office earnings to over $21.8 million. Even with a significant drop in sales, the movie remains popular with viewers looking for feel-good entertainment with positive themes.

‘EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert’ (2026)

Baz Luhrmann’s new film offers a captivating look at Elvis Presley’s concerts, using restored and previously unseen footage. Distributed by Neon, this isn’t a typical Elvis biography; it’s a pure celebration of his electrifying stage presence. The film opened to strong numbers, earning $3.25 million from just 325 theaters – an impressive $10,000 per screen. This limited release built excitement and turned the screenings into a special event for fans.

‘How to Make a Killing’ (2026)

I was completely captivated by Glen Powell in this darkly funny and thrilling movie! It’s about a guy who comes up with a rather drastic plan – eliminating his distant, rich relatives to get his hands on the family money. It reminded me a bit of ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets,’ but with a modern twist. A24 really knows how to pick projects, and Powell’s charm makes you almost root for this flawed, even murderous, character. It opened pretty well, earning over $3.5 million in its first weekend from over 1,600 theaters, which is a solid start for an indie film. I have a feeling this one will build momentum through good word-of-mouth – it’s definitely a movie people will be talking about!

‘Send Help’ (2026)

Directed by Sam Raimi, this thrilling horror film features Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien as colleagues who find themselves stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. What begins as a story of survival quickly turns into a tense psychological conflict as the relationship between a boss and employee dramatically changes. In its fourth week of release, the Disney film earned $4.5 million, bringing its total earnings to $55.53 million. The movie has proven popular with horror audiences and continues to perform well in theaters, remaining on 2,800 screens.

‘Crime 101’ (2026)

This thrilling heist movie, based on a story by Don Winslow, features Chris Hemsworth as a skilled jewel thief and Mark Ruffalo as the detective trying to catch him. Released by Amazon MGM Studios, the film follows a string of robberies along the California coast, building suspense through its characters rather than constant action. It made $5.8 million during its second weekend, a decrease of 59.5% from its opening, bringing its total domestic earnings to $24.7 million. Despite featuring two popular actors, the significant drop in viewership suggests audiences are divided on the film’s speed and rhythm.

‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ (2026)

Lionsgate is back with another film aimed at faith-based audiences, continuing the story of Bart Millard, the musician from the band MercyMe. This sequel follows Millard, played by John Michael Finley, as he balances the demands of his music career, touring with up-and-coming artist Tim Timmons (Milo Ventimiglia), and the responsibilities of being a father. The movie earned $8 million in its opening weekend from over 3,100 theaters, proving the consistent support of faith-based moviegoers. While not as big a hit as the first film, it still opened in a strong third place at the box office.

‘Wuthering Heights’ (2026)

Emerald Fennell’s new film, a fresh take on Emily Brontë’s classic story, stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. The Warner Bros. romantic drama dives into the unhealthy and all-consuming relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff, presented with Fennell’s distinctive modern style. After its second weekend in theaters, the film has earned over $60 million, with a total gross of $60,012,668. Though ticket sales decreased by over 50%, the film is still attracting large audiences and generating buzz thanks to its popular stars.

‘GOAT’ (2026)

As a critic, I’m happy to report that Sony Pictures Animation has another winner on their hands with ‘GOAT’! This charming sports comedy follows Will Harris, a little goat with big dreams of making it in the pro “roarball” league. Produced by Stephen Curry, the movie is packed with fun, animal athletes and has really resonated with families. It topped the box office for a second week, raking in $17 million and bringing its total to over $58 million domestically. What’s even more impressive is its staying power – a drop of only 37.5% – which proves ‘GOAT’ is the family movie everyone’s going to see this season.

2026-02-24 01:47