Raimi’s Deserted Island Horror is On Top of This Weekend’s Box Office

The theatrical landscape saw a significant shift this weekend as several high-profile debuts challenged established blockbusters for the top positions on the charts. Audiences flocked to a diverse mix of survival thrillers, biographical dramas, and long-awaited sequels as the winter season continues to drive strong attendance. While major studios like Disney and Sony continue to hold a significant presence, independent productions and creator-led projects are making notable waves. This week’s results reflect a broad appetite for storytelling across various genres and distribution platforms.

‘Clika’ (2026)

In its second weekend, this musical drama follows a small-town musician attempting to break into the Mexican-American music scene after going viral. Directed by Michael Greene and starring Jay Dee alongside Daniel ‘Doknow’ Lopez, the film earned $575,000 across 540 theaters. The production has reached a cumulative domestic total of $2,257,455 since its debut. Written by Greene, Sean McBride, and Ski-ter Jones, ‘Clika’ continues to find its rhythm with niche audiences.

‘Primate’ (2025)

This Paramount Pictures release saw a 50.1% decline in its fourth weekend, bringing in $775,000 from 1,225 screens. The film has maintained a steady presence in the top 15, accumulating a total domestic gross of $25,035,958. As a mid-budget thriller, it explores themes of scientific experimentation and its unintended consequences. The movie’s performance reflects the standard late-run trajectory for genre films in the current market.

‘Anaconda’ (2025)

Sony Pictures Releasing’s modern reimagining of the classic creature feature earned $820,000 in its sixth week of release. Despite a 37.3% drop from the previous weekend, the film has successfully crossed the $60 million mark with a total of $63,639,155. The project aims to revitalize the giant snake horror subgenre for a new generation of viewers. It currently maintains a footprint of 1,052 theaters across the country.

‘Return to Silent Hill’ (2025)

Directed by Christophe Gans, this psychological horror entry faced a steep 69.8% drop in its second weekend, earning $980,833. The Cineverse distribution has garnered a total of $5,107,032 to date while playing in 1,608 theaters. Based on the acclaimed video game ‘Silent Hill 2’, the story follows James Sunderland as he searches for his lost love in the fog-shrouded town. The film’s per-theater average fell to $609 as it navigates a competitive horror landscape.

‘Hamnet’ (2025)

This Focus Features period drama, based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, brought in $1.5 million during its tenth week in theaters. The film has shown remarkable staying power, reaching a total domestic cume of $20,215,030. Directed by Chloé Zhao, the narrative explores the lives of William Shakespeare’s family following the tragic death of his only son. It remains a steady performer for adult audiences despite losing 737 screens this weekend.

’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ (2025)

Danny Boyle’s return to the post-apocalyptic franchise earned $1.6 million in its third weekend, representing a 53.3% decrease. The Sony Pictures release has now amassed $23,650,742 as it continues the story of the Rage Virus decades after the initial outbreak. Screening in 2,042 locations, the film saw a significant reduction in its theater count by 1,464 screens. The sequel’s performance indicates a front-loaded interest from hardcore fans of the original series.

‘Marty Supreme’ (2025)

A24’s sports-themed drama starring Timothée Chalamet earned $2,913,763 in its seventh weekend. Inspired by the life of ping pong champion Marty Reisman, the film has proven to be a significant hit with a total gross of $90,879,866. Directed by Josh Safdie, the production maintains a respectable per-theater average of $1,710. Its consistent performance suggests it may continue to linger in the top ten for several more weeks.

‘The Housemaid’ (2025)

Lionsgate’s psychological thriller based on the bestselling novel by Freida McFadden earned $3,500,403 this weekend. The film has been a major success for the studio, crossing the $120 million mark in its seventh week of release. Following a woman who starts working for a wealthy family with dark secrets, the movie has captivated audiences through word-of-mouth. It currently plays in 2,603 theaters with a total domestic gross of $120,686,000.

‘Mercy’ (2025)

Amazon MGM’s sci-fi thriller starring Chris Pratt fell to seventh place with a weekend take of $4,730,000. In its second week, the film experienced a 56.2% drop, bringing its total domestic earnings to $19,407,819. Set in a future where capital crime is at an all-time high, the story follows a detective accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Despite the decline, the film maintained a high theater count of 3,468 locations.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ (2025)

James Cameron’s third installment in the ‘Avatar’ franchise continues to draw crowds in its seventh weekend with $5.5 million. The 20th Century Studios epic has reached a massive domestic total of $386,126,673. Exploring the aggressive Ash People of Pandora, the film remains a visual powerhouse even as it begins to wind down its primary run. It held a per-theater average of $1,964 across 2,800 screens.

‘Shelter’ (2026)

This new release from Black Bear debuted in fifth place with $5,505,000 from 2,726 theaters. The thriller, which marks a strong opening for the independent distributor, averaged $2,019 per screen. Focusing on a group of survivors in a high-stakes environment, the film benefited from a targeted marketing campaign. As a fresh entry in the market, its performance over the coming weeks will determine its long-term viability.

‘Zootopia 2’ (2025)

Defying typical box office trends, Disney’s animated sequel saw a 9.4% increase in its tenth weekend, earning $5.8 million. The film has now officially surpassed $400 million domestically, with a total cume of $408,957,359. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde return for a new investigation that has clearly resonated with families throughout the winter season. The film’s longevity highlights the enduring popularity of the characters and the Disney brand.

‘Melania’ (2026)

This biographical drama from Amazon MGM Studios opened with $7,042,000 in 1,778 theaters. Centered on the life of the former First Lady, the film achieved a per-theater average of $3,960 in its debut weekend. The production aims to provide a stylized look at her personal and public life during her time in the White House. It enters the market as one of the most talked-about biographical projects of the year.

‘Iron Lung’ (2026)

The highly anticipated horror adaptation from creator Markiplier debuted with an impressive $17.8 million. Playing in 3,015 theaters, the film secured a high per-theater average of $5,903. Based on the popular indie game, the story follows a convict piloting a small submarine through a sea of blood on a desolate moon. This opening weekend marks a significant milestone for creator-led cinema at the domestic box office.

‘Send Help’ (2026)

Walt Disney Studios’ latest survival thriller took the top spot this weekend with a $20 million opening. Directed by Sam Raimi, the film was released in 3,475 theaters, yielding a per-theater average of $5,755. The story follows individuals stranded on an island, blending elements of survival drama and psychological tension. As the number one film in the country, it establishes a strong start for Disney’s early 2026 slate.

Please share which of these box office hits you are most excited to see in the comments.