Godzilla Minus One, the latest installment in Toho’s iconic monster franchise, has made a strong debut at the North American box office, grossing an estimated $10 million in its opening weekend. The film, which is set in post-World War II Japan, follows a group of survivors as they attempt to rebuild their lives in the wake of the destruction caused by Godzilla.
The film’s success is a testament to the enduring popularity of the Godzilla franchise, as well as the strong critical reception that the film has received. Godzilla Minus One currently holds an impressive 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising the film’s action sequences, special effects, and performances.
Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, a visual album from the singer-songwriter, also made a strong debut at the box office, grossing an estimated $10 million in its opening weekend. The film, which is a companion piece to Beyoncé’s latest album, Renaissance, is a visually stunning and emotionally powerful exploration of themes of love, loss, and rebirth. The film has been praised by critics for its creativity, artistry, and Beyoncé’s performance.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes**, the prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy, also performed well at the box office, grossing an estimated $8 million in its opening weekend. The film, which is set decades before the events of the original trilogy, follows the story of Coriolanus Snow, the future president of Panem, as he attends the Hunger Games academy. The film has been praised for its dark and suspenseful tone, as well as its performances.
Silent Night, a new revenge thriller from director John Woo, also opened to decent numbers, grossing an estimated $250,000 in its opening weekend. The film, which stars Joel Kinnaman and Scott Mescudi, follows the story of a father who seeks revenge on the gang that killed his son on Christmas Eve. The film has been praised for its gritty action sequences and its performances.
Overall, the North American box office is off to a strong start in December, with several new films performing well. Godzilla Minus One, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes are all expected to continue to perform well in the coming weeks. Here is a table of the top 10 films at the North American box office for the weekend of December 2nd – 4th, 2023:
| Rank | Film | Studio | Weekend Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Godzilla Minus One | Toho | $10 million |
| 2 | Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé | Parkwood Entertainment | $10 million |
| 3 | The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes | Lionsgate | $8 million |
| 4 | Silent Night | Lionsgate | $250,000 |
| 5 | Devotion | Sony Pictures Releasing | $210,000 |
| 6 | The Fabelmans | Universal Pictures | $190,000 |
| 7 | Bones and All | MGM/United Artists | $180,000 |
| 8 | She Said | Universal Pictures | $170,000 |
| 9 | Women Talking | Orion Pictures | $160,000 |
| 10 | The Banshees of Inisherin | Searchlight Pictures | $150,000 |