Theater counts: Way of Water cruises into 2023

January 5, 2023

After making its North American debut on December 16th, Avatar: The Way of Water has amassed a staggering $465 million from a steady 4,202 locations. Internationally, the James Cameron juggernaut has performed even better, scoring $1.05 billion since its release, already eclipsing the $769 million that Top Gun: Maverick earned during its seven-month run. Way of Water actually adds 138 viewing locations this week, making it once again this week’s widest release, playing in 4,340 venues. We will at least have one brand new wide release this week to give it some competition.

Universal Pictures is releasing their science fiction horror film M3GAN in 3,509 cinemas. M3GAN is described as “a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally”. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma, M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to. When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady, Gemma’s unsure and unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems—a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.

Rounding out the top five this week is the film that, if not for the massive earnings by Avatar, would be the talk of the town. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish does dip below 4,000 locations this week, but still comes in at a very respectable 3,913 theaters, and good enough for second place on our chart. Next is the Whitney Houston biopic, Whitney Houston I Wanna Dance with Somebody, showing in 3,184 venues, while Babylon is still available in 2,381 movie houses.

Expanding from four locations to 637 this week is the Tom Hanks comedy, A Man Called Otto. After earning $81,866 in its first six days, the film will expand into an estimated 3,500 theaters. Likewise, after opening in only two locations just before Christmas, and three last week, Corsage expands its reach into 317 theaters this week.

Alongside A Man Called Otto’s even wider expansion next week, we also see the debut of Gerard Butler action-thriller, Plane. Directed by Jean-François Richet, the film centers around a pilot surviving the aftermath of an emergency landing in hostile territory. Lastly, opening in wide release next week is the reboot of the 1990 film of the same name as House Party makes its way to the big screen.

Theater Counts for January 6

Theater Counts for January 13

Bruce Nash

Filed under: Theater Counts, Avatar, Top Gun, Tom Hanks, Gerard Butler, James Cameron, Whitney Houston, Jean-Francois Richet