Theater counts: Bullet Train accelerates to the top as it and Easter Sunday open wide

August 4, 2022

Like last week, two new wide releases grace movie theaters across North America this weekend in the form of the violent action-comedy Bullet Train, and holiday comedy, Easter Sunday. Opening in 4,317 theaters, Bullet Train is directed by David Leitch and contains a large ensemble cast, led by Brad Pitt as an experienced but unlucky assassin named “Ladybug”. Co-starring with Pitt is Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, and Andrew Koji among others. The Japanese-set film which is based on Kōtarō Isaka’s dark novel “MariaBeetle” will be available on both traditional and IMAX screens. Easter Sunday, which will debut in 3,175 locations, stars Jo Koy as a man who returns home for an Easter celebration with his riotous, bickering, eating, drinking, laughing, loving family.

Returning for its second week is the current box office winner DC League of Super Pets. The animated superhero comedy starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart stirred up just over $23 million in its opening weekend and currently holds a domestic total of $31.7 million. The film adds 18 theaters this week, landing in 4,332 locations. Rounding out the top five this week are two films that recently crossed the $300 million mark in North America: Thor: Love and Thunder ($307 million) and Minions: The Rise of Gru ($326 million). Love and Thunder and Rise of Gru enter this week as the third and fourth widest release with 3,400 and 3,179 locations respectively.

Showing in limited release this week is the comedy, I Love My Dad. The film stars Patton Oswalt as a father who catfishes his son after being blocked on social media. I Love My Dad makes its theatrical debut in 116 movie houses. Playing at the Quad Cinema in New York this week is the documentary Claydream. The film tells the story of Will Vinton, known as the “Father of Claymation”, who revolutionized the animation business during the 1980s and 90s, creating such iconic characters as the California Raisins and Domino’s The Noid. Lastly, A24 Films is releasing the comedy slasher-film Bodies Bodies Bodies in limited locations before expanding wide next week.

Next week will be slightly quieter as nothing is set to open as wide as this week’s newcomers. That said, survivor-thriller Fall is expected to open in about 1,400 locations, while Mack & Rita to hit theaters in wide release. Also worthy of mention is a special IMAX exclusive release of the classic E.T. The Extra Terrestrial showing on 300 IMAX screens across North America.

Theater Counts for August 5

Estimates for August 12