‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Joins $2 Billion Box Office Club...

After three weekends in theaters, Sony/Marvel Studios’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has made history as the eighth film to gross $2 billion at the global box office. The milestone was assured after its $360 million domestic/$927 million global launch at the end of July, as the film enjoyed excellent reception from critics and audiences alike. With a $70 million domestic third weekend, the movie is well on course to keep on rolling past post-COVID shutdown megahits like “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Ne Zha 2” to become the third film to reach $2.5 billion before inflation adjustment, joining “Avatar” and “Avengers: Endgame” in that elite club. Domestically, the film is also pushing to become the highest grossing release of all time by passing the $936 million record set in 2016 by “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Currently, “Brand New Day” is on pace to reach that mark with $785 million after three weekends, 5.6% ahead of the pace set by “Force Awakens,” though its mid-week grosses have been lower compared to that film’s holiday season run. Theatrical sources tell TheWrap that “Brand New Day” is falling off the pace to become the first movie to gross $1 billion from domestic receipts alone but could still pass “The Force Awakens” with an estimated final total of around $960 million. In second on the charts once again is Universal/Syncopy’s “The Odyssey” with $23.2 million in its second weekend, pushing Christopher Nolan’s film past $500 million in domestic grosses as it continues to show remarkable legs. For comparison, Nolan’s previous film “Oppenheimer,” once the highest grossing biopic of all time, had a fifth weekend total of $10.7 million. In third is Paramount/Spin Master’s “Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie,” which opened to $20.5 million from 3,545 locations. That’s just a couple steps below the $22.7 million opening of “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” in 2023. “Paw Patrol” has become a major moneymaker for Paramount, earning billions in merchandise since its launch on Nick Jr. in 2013. With this mid-August release, Paramount and Spin Master are set to earn another windfall on “Dino Movie”-themed back-to-school supplies among the show’s under-8 core fanbase. “Paw Patrol” has also been key to the rise of Jennifer Dodge, who served as the franchise producer of the series since 2016 and last year was named the President of Paramount Animation following the completion of the studio’s acquisition by Skydance. “The Dino Movie” is part of an animated slate that will be overseen by Dodge and includes a third “Angry Birds” movie this holiday season and a Halloween-themed film based on the indie comic “Freddy the 13th” in 2028. More to come…