Sam Raimi has the No. 1 film at the U.S. box office. Sam Raimi. Incredible.
Raimi’s “comeback film,” Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, opened big, selling a solid $185 million in the U.S. and $450 million worldwide over its first three days of release. Those are some massive numbers.
Sure, it’s a Marvel film, but it’s also a Sam Raimi and Benedict Cumberbatch film, isn’t it? And they’re both fantastic.
Do I wish that Raimi and Cumberbatch had a No. 1 film that’s actually worthwhile IP? Yeah, of course I do, but it’s 2022, and that’s not really something that happens anymore. I’m just glad that Raimi has another hit because this almost certainly means he’ll be empowered to do another passion project soon.
Also at the box
Animated flick The Bad Guys had the second-most ticket salesover its third weekend, making another $9.8 million, bringing its 17-day total to $57 million in the U.S. and $148 million worldwide. Meh. Looks forgettable.
Another children’s film, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, took the No. 3 spot, selling another $6.2 million over its fifth weekend of release. So far, Sonic 2 has sold $170 million in the U.S. and just under $350 million worldwide. What I’m saying here is that, yes, there will be a third Sonic film. But of course there will be.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore settled in at fourth place with just under $4 million in sales. So far, the latest film in theHarry Potter franchise has sold a wimpy $86 million in the U.S. and just $363 million worldwide. Oof.
The year’s so-far most acclaimed film, Everything Everywhere All at Once, rounded out the weekend’s Top 5 with $3.3 million in sales, upping its seven-week sales total to $41.5 million in the U.S. That’s excellent news. I know a whole lot of people who have been suggesting this is one of the most impressive films they’ve ever seen. Happy to see it in the Top 5, making some dollars.
Also of note: The Northman has been doing pretty well, selling $28 million in the U.S. over its first 17 days of release. Not bad for an art film!
New this week
A whole lot of smaller films will trickle out this week as Doctor Strange will almost certainly continue to dominate.
The week’s major release, a remake of Firestarter, seems like a pretty boring, limp release, despite starring Zac Efron, who is getting better with age.
Here are the smaller films to keep an eye out for: On the Count of Three; Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story; Family Camp; Homebound; Shark Bait; The Last Victim; The Innocents; and Tankhouse. Meh. There are so many films being made these days. Such a strange industry.
ScreenRant
Sam Raimi hasn’t really done a whole lot that I’ve liked since I started writing this column more than a decade ago, and so I haven’t really written about him. That’s a shame, as Raimi is probably one of the most influential and important living American filmmakers.
In tribute to his great career, this week I figured I’d give him the ScreenTime treatment and rank my Top 10 Sam Raimi films.
Here we go …
10. Drag Me to Hell (2009)
9. For Love of the Game (1999)
8. The Evil Dead (1981)
7. Evil Dead II (1987)
6. Army of Darkness (1992)
5. The Gift (2000)
4. Darkman (1990)
3. Spider-Man (2002)
2. A Simple Plan (1998)
1. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
