“Challengers” Tops Domestic Box Office with $15 Million in Opening Weekend

Amazon MGM Studios’ latest venture into the world of cinema, “Challengers,” served up an ace, seizing the top spot at the box office with a debut of $15 million in ticket sales through April 28th. The R-rated film, boasting a reported production cost of $55 million, stars Zendaya of “Dune” and “Euphoria” fame in a tennis-themed romance drama that captivated audiences.

“Challengers” eclipsed its competition, including Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company’s joint release, “Unsung Hero,” which garnered an estimated $7.75 million across 2,832 screens in North America. Despite outperforming pre-weekend tracking and boasting a modest $6 million production budget, “Unsung Hero” couldn’t match the fervor generated by the tennis romance.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Entertainment’s colossal clash of titans, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” continued its formidable run, raking in $7.2 million over the weekend. With North American earnings surpassing $181 million and a global haul exceeding $495 million, the monster-filled spectacle maintained its grip on audiences’ attention.

A24’s politically-charged drama, “Civil War,” added $7 million to its North American tally, pushing past $56 million domestically and $71 million worldwide. Universal Pictures’ “Abigail” also contributed to the weekend box office, pulling in an additional $5.2 million in its second weekend, bringing the reimagining of the classic horror tale, “Dracula’s Daughter,” to nearly $19 million in total earnings.