The first full January frame at the U.S. domestic box office reaffirmed what the holiday corridor had already established: this market remains driven by holdovers rather than disruption. No new release arrived with the scale or urgency to reorder the charts, allowing established titles to dictate the weekend’s rhythm while newer entrants settled into the middle of the pack.
At the top, Avatar: Fire and Ash continued its steady reign, adding $21.3 million in its fourth weekend to remain the No. 1 film domestically. While the drop was a predictable 49 percent week-on-week, the context matters more than the percentage. Playing in around 3,700 locations, the film pushed its North American total to $342.5 million, maintaining strong per-theater averages for a title this deep into its run. The performance confirms that Fire and Ash is settling into a long-haul pattern rather than chasing front-loaded records, mirroring the slower-burn trajectory that often defines James Cameron releases.
Opening in second place was Primate, which debuted with $11.3 million from just under 3,000 theaters. The opening was serviceable but not breakout, positioning the film as a mid-tier January performer rather than a market disruptor. Its per-theater average suggested moderate curiosity without the kind of demand that forces major screen reallocation, especially with strong holiday holdovers still commanding premium slots.
Close behind, The Housemaid once again proved its durability. In its fourth weekend, the Lionsgate release earned $11.2 million, slipping just 26 percent from last week — one of the best holds in the top ten. With a domestic total now at $94.1 million, the psychological thriller is inching closer to the $100 million mark in North America, a significant achievement for an R-rated film produced on a modest budget. Its continued presence near the top underscores how word-of-mouth has become its primary fuel.
Disney’s Zootopia 2 placed fourth with $10.1 million in its seventh weekend. Although down 48 percent, the animated sequel remains a cornerstone of the marketplace, lifting its domestic total to $378.8 million. Few animated films maintain this level of traction beyond six weeks, and Zootopia 2 continues to perform as a reliable family option, particularly during weekends when new family-oriented releases are absent.
Rounding out the top five, Greenland 2: Migration debuted with $8.5 million. The opening reflects a restrained appetite for disaster sequels at the start of the year, landing the film squarely in acceptable but unspectacular territory. Its performance suggests limited upside without strong weekday holds.
Outside the top five, Marty Supreme added $7.6 million in its fourth weekend, taking its domestic total past $70 million. The film continues to show resilience, especially given its adult-skewing appeal. Anaconda earned $5.1 million in its third weekend, pushing its North American gross to $54.2 million. While no longer a front-line performer, it remains a steady contributor and is now firmly into profitable territory theatrically.
Family titles further down the chart showed sharper declines. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants collected $3.8 million, while specialty releases like Song Sung Blue and David continued modest runs, driven largely by niche audiences rather than broad appeal.
One of the more notable movements came from Is This Thing On?, which saw a significant jump after a wide expansion, posting $2.4 million and signaling how platform releases can still find momentum when timed carefully.
Overall, the weekend reflected a market in consolidation mode. With no breakout debut and no major collapse among the top titles, the domestic box office leaned heavily on consistency. Avatar: Fire and Ash remains the clear anchor, while films like The Housemaid and Zootopia 2 continue to demonstrate the value of sustained audience engagement over headline-grabbing openings. As January progresses, the industry will be watching closely to see whether any upcoming release can disrupt this equilibrium — but for now, endurance remains the defining currency of the U.S. box office.
