Theater counts: Wakanda Forever is back as widest release, but Avatar: The Way of Water looms

December 8, 2022

As expected, this week witnesses a lull in new releases arriving to theaters, as well as the top films dropping in viewing locations. In fact, we have to go back nearly three months, to September 16, 2022 to not see a film registering over 4,000 locations. This week Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is back on top with 3,725 cinemas, and more so as a result of last week’s widest release, Strange World, shedding 614 theaters this week, beginning its third week at the box office in 3,560 venues. As everyone is likely aware, this week is just the calm before the storm until Avatar: The Way of Water makes landfall on December 16.

Rounding out our top five for this week is last week’s newcomer in Violent Night. Coming in just only two locations short of Wakanda Forever with 3,723 theaters, the Christmas action-comedy scored $13.45 million in its opening weekend and currently sits just shy of $17 million in its first six days at the box office. Lastly, we see Devotion and The Menu entering this week showing in 3,458 and 2,710 theaters, respectively.

Tom Cruise fans will have one last opportunity to see Top Gun: Maverick in theaters as the film will be playing for one more week in 1,223 locations before becoming available on Paramount+ and SkyShowtime on December 22. Another film from earlier this year will be joining Maverick as Father Stu: Reborn (a PG-13 version of the film) comes back in 993 movie houses this week. The faith-based drama about a boxer turned priest debuted back in April and collected just over $21 million in worldwide earnings.

Opening in limited release this week is the political documentary To the End. Debuting in 120 cinemas, the film captures the emergence of a new generation of leaders and the movement behind the most sweeping climate change legislation in U.S. history. Also making its first foray into theaters is the latest from Searchlight Pictures in Empire of Light. Starting out in 110 venues, the 1980s-set drama stars Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward and is written and directed by Sam Mendes. Lastly, showing at Cinema Village in New York City as well as the Laemmle in Los Angeles, Chilean drama Blanquita makes its cinematic debut.

As mentioned above, the long-awaited sequel to Avatar comes to cinemas worldwide next week. The James Cameron masterpiece is the first of four planned sequels and stars a bevy of cast members from the first film, alongside some new faces. Avatar: The Way of Water is expected to arrive in about 4,100 theaters according to Walt Disney Pictures.

Note: The theater count for I Heard the Bells is an estimate from Box Office Pro.

Theater Counts for December 9

Theater Counts for December 16

Bruce Nash

Filed under: Theater Counts, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avatar, Black Panther, Tom Cruise, James Cameron, Olivia Colman, Sam Mendes, Micheal Ward