The US domestic box office found its first true blockbuster moment in weeks as Project Hail Mary exploded to a stellar $80.6 million debut, delivering the biggest opening of 2026 and marking a defining theatrical win for Amazon MGM.
The sci-fi epic not only outperformed projections but also set a new benchmark for the studio, surpassing the $58 million launch of Creed III to become Amazon MGM’s highest opening ever. Internationally, the film added $60.4 million, pushing its worldwide debut to a strong $140.9 million.
Driven by exceptional word-of-mouth — including a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and an “A” CinemaScore — Project Hail Mary represents a rare combination of critical acclaim and audience approval. The film’s performance was further amplified by premium formats, with IMAX and other large screens contributing an estimated 55% of total revenue, reinforcing the growing importance of PLFs in modern box office success.
More importantly, the film arrives at a pivotal moment for Amazon MGM. Following a string of underperforming theatrical titles, the studio finally has a crowd-pleasing hit that validates its big-screen ambitions. With a reported $200 million production budget, the film will need strong legs, but its opening trajectory suggests sustained momentum.
Pixar’s Hoppers Transitions Into Long-Run Success Mode
Falling to second place, Hoppers continued its steady run with $18 million in its third weekend, down 37 percent. The film has now grossed $120.4 million domestically and approximately $242 million worldwide.
Rather than relying on a massive debut, Hoppers is following the classic family-film trajectory — building gradually through repeat viewings and word-of-mouth. With spring break approaching, the Pixar release is entering the most favorable phase of its run, where family turnout typically increases.
For Pixar, the film’s performance is particularly encouraging, signaling a return to form for original storytelling after years of relying heavily on sequels.
Dhurandhar 2 Sets a Historic Benchmark for Indian Cinema in North America
In one of the weekend’s most notable developments, Dhurandhar: The Revenge debuted in third place with $9.57 million from just 987 theaters. The performance marks the biggest opening ever for a Bollywood film in North America, surpassing the previous record set by Pathaan.
The strong per-theater average — nearly $10,000 — highlights the film’s event-driven appeal among diaspora audiences. Even with a lengthy runtime, the turnout remained robust, underscoring the growing global footprint of Indian cinema in key international markets.
Ready or Not 2 Opens Soft as Horror Sequels Show Limits
Disney and Searchlight’s Ready or Not 2: Here I Come opened in fourth place with $9.1 million domestically, slightly above the original film’s debut but below expectations. With a global start of $11.9 million, the sequel’s performance suggests that mid-tier horror follow-ups without strong event positioning may struggle to break out.
While horror remains a reliable genre overall, recent trends indicate that audiences are increasingly selective, favoring either established franchises or fresh high-concept entries.
Reminders of Him Holds as Book Adaptations Continue to Deliver
Universal’s Reminders of Him added $8 million in its second weekend, bringing its domestic total to $33 million and worldwide earnings to $54 million against a modest $25 million budget.
The film’s performance reinforces the growing viability of literary adaptations as a mid-budget theatrical lane, driven primarily by dedicated fan bases rather than large-scale marketing campaigns.
Further down the chart, Paramount’s Scream 7 continued its descent with $4.3 million, pushing its domestic total to $114.5 million. As expected, the horror sequel is proving to be heavily front-loaded, with most of its revenue concentrated in the opening weeks.
In contrast, Sony’s GOAT continues to demonstrate remarkable staying power. The film added $3.5 million in its sixth weekend, bringing its domestic total to $97.5 million and putting it on track to cross the $100 million milestone soon.
The contrast between the two films highlights a defining trend in today’s box office: horror delivers fast returns, while animation builds sustained success over time.
A24’s Undertone dropped sharply by 68 percent in its second weekend, earning $3 million for a domestic total of $15.2 million. The decline suggests limited audience expansion beyond its initial core base, a common challenge for prestige-driven releases.
A Market Driven by Events, Families, and Niche Audiences
Taken together, the weekend paints a clear picture of the current theatrical landscape. Event films like Project Hail Mary can still generate massive turnout when paired with strong reviews and premium-format appeal. Family films such as Hoppers and GOAT provide stability through consistent audience engagement, while international titles like Dhurandhar 2 demonstrate the growing influence of global cinema in the US market.
At the same time, mid-tier releases and prestige projects continue to face tighter margins for success, requiring either strong word-of-mouth or clearly defined audiences to sustain theatrical runs.
With no major competition on the immediate horizon, Project Hail Mary is poised to dominate the box office in the coming weeks — reaffirming that when theatrical experiences align with audience expectations, the big screen still delivers at scale.
Box office figures are based on studio estimates and industry data. Final totals may change as updated actuals are reported.
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