Animated Debut Tops This Weekend’s Box Office Charts

The President’s Day holiday hangover did little to deter family audiences this weekend, though adult-skewing dramas saw significant drop-offs. Sony’s animated sports comedy ‘GOAT’ maintained its dominance in its second frame, fending off a fresh faith-based sequel and a polarizing literary adaptation. Meanwhile, niche releases from A24 and Neon managed to carve out impressive averages despite limited screen counts, signaling a healthy appetite for specialized content alongside the blockbusters.

‘Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert’ (2026)

Legendary action choreographer and director Yuen Woo-ping returns to the helm for this animated martial arts epic distributed by Well Go USA Entertainment. The film, which adapts the acclaimed comic ‘Biao Ren’, follows a skilled mercenary escorting a mysterious fugitive across the dangerous deserts of the Sui Dynasty. Opening in just 184 theaters, the project secured the fifteenth spot with a weekend gross of $760,000. It boasted a solid per-theater average of $4,130, capitalizing on its specific demographic appeal during the post-Lunar New Year window.

‘2026 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Animation’ (2026)

As the Academy Awards ceremony approaches, this annual anthology from Roadside Attractions continues to draw cinephiles eager to complete their Oscar ballots. The collection features a diverse array of artistic styles and narratives, ranging from hand-drawn emotional dramas to cutting-edge stop-motion efforts. The package pulled in $1,003,062 from 354 locations, demonstrating the consistent reliability of this seasonal theatrical event. With a per-theater average of $2,833, it serves as a steady counter-programmer to the mainstream releases dominating the multiplexes.

‘Dracula’ (2026)

Vertical Entertainment’s latest iteration of the Bram Stoker classic fell to the thirteenth spot in its third week of release. This atmospheric retelling, which focuses heavily on the tragic romance and gothic horror elements of the Count’s origin, earned $1,327,837 over the weekend. The film suffered a 54.8% drop, bringing its domestic cumulative total to $11,450,329. Despite shedding 512 theaters, the movie managed to retain a presence in 1,275 locations as it begins to wind down its theatrical run.

‘Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die’ (2026)

Directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Sam Rockwell, this sci-fi actioner centers on a “man from the future” recruiting diner patrons to stop a rogue artificial intelligence. The film took a steep 57.5% hit in its second weekend, grossing $1,550,000 for Briarcliff Entertainment. While the premise intrigued genre fans initially, the film is struggling to hold its audience, sitting with a cumulative gross of $6,580,121. It actually expanded slightly by 62 theaters, yet the per-theater average dipped to just $927, indicating dwindling interest.

‘Psycho Killer’ (2026)

20th Century Studios unleashed this throwback slasher film, directed by Gavin Polone and penned by ‘Se7en’ screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker, to a quiet debut. The plot follows a highway patrol officer who tracks a Satanic serial killer across the midwest after the murder of her husband. Opening in 1,100 theaters, the horror-thriller grossed $1,600,000, landing it outside the top ten. With a per-theater average of $1,454, the R-rated feature struggled to break out in a marketplace currently crowded with genre options.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ (2025)

James Cameron’s third installment in the Pandora saga continues its historic run, now in its tenth week of release. The film, which introduces the aggressive Ash People and expands the lore of the Na’vi, added another $1,800,000 to its massive coffers. It has now amassed a staggering domestic total of $399,441,400 for 20th Century Studios. Even with a 48.7% drop and the loss of 315 screens, the blockbuster remains a significant draw, proving the enduring appeal of Cameron’s visual spectacle.

‘Zootopia 2’ (2025)

Disney’s animated sequel remains a family favorite even in its thirteenth week, holding the ninth position on the charts. Officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde return to solve a new conspiracy threatening the diverse districts of their animal metropolis. The film grossed $2,300,000, experiencing a moderate 39.7% decline while still playing in 1,820 theaters. With a colossal cumulative gross of $423,921,131, it stands as one of the most successful holdovers of the season, continuing to generate revenue well past the typical shelf life of holiday releases.

‘Solo Mio’ (2026)

Kevin James returns to the romantic comedy genre in this Angel Studios release, playing a man who goes on his Italian honeymoon alone after being left at the altar, only to find unexpected romance abroad. The film brought in $2,556,550 in its third weekend, dropping 59.9% as it lost 700 screens. Despite the sharp decline, the film has secured a respectable domestic total of $21,829,105. The film’s wholesome, old-school approach to the genre has clearly resonated with its target demographic, though its theatrical momentum is beginning to fade.

‘EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert’ (2026)

Baz Luhrmann follows up his biopic success with this unique documentary experience, utilizing restored footage found in salt mines to create an immersive concert film. Distributed by Neon, the film opened with a robust $3,250,000 from just 325 locations. This specialized release achieved the weekend’s highest per-theater average by far at $10,000, proving the King of Rock and Roll still commands a royal audience. The film’s limited engagement strategy created a must-see event atmosphere that maximized attendance in premium format venues.

‘How to Make a Killing’ (2026)

A24’s black comedy thriller, starring Glen Powell as a disowned heir eliminating his wealthy relatives to reclaim his fortune, debuted in the sixth spot. A loose adaptation of ‘Kind Hearts and Coronets’, the film garnered $3,560,617 in its opening frame from 1,625 theaters. With a per-theater average of $2,191, the film performed modestly, attracting fans of dark satire and Powell’s rising star power. The studio will look for strong word-of-mouth to sustain the film in the coming weeks against larger studio competition.

‘Send Help’ (2026)

Sam Raimi’s survival horror-thriller, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien as coworkers stranded on a deserted island, rounded out the top five. The film earned $4,500,000 in its fourth weekend, bringing its total domestic gross to $55,528,137. It saw a 49.4% drop while shedding 175 theaters, but continues to perform reliably for Walt Disney Studios. The mix of workplace satire and grueling survival elements has helped it maintain a steady audience despite the arrival of newer genre titles.

‘Crime 101’ (2026)

Based on the Don Winslow novella, this Amazon MGM Studios production features high-stakes jewel thieves and the detective trying to catch them. The star-studded crime thriller grossed $5,772,552 in its second weekend, suffering a heavy 59.5% drop. With a cumulative total of $24,705,329, the film is performing decently but burning through its audience quickly. Playing in 3,161 theaters, it averaged $1,826 per screen, suggesting that while the star power is a draw, the film may not have the legs of a long-running hit.

‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ (2026)

Lionsgate’s sequel to the 2018 faith-based hit debuted at number three, proving the franchise still holds significant sway with its core audience. The film, which follows MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard and the band’s new addition Tim Timmons, opened with $8,000,000. Launching in 3,105 theaters, it secured a solid per-theater average of $2,576. The drama focuses on themes of grief and songwriting, capitalizing on the built-in fanbase of the band and the original film’s massive success.

‘Wuthering Heights’ (2026)

Emerald Fennell’s provocative adaptation of the Emily Brontë literary classic slipped to second place in its sophomore frame. Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the doomed lovers Cathy and Heathcliff, the Warner Bros. release grossed $14,200,000. The film experienced a 56.7% drop, a standard decline for a front-loaded, buzz-heavy drama, bringing its total to $60,012,668. While the sexually charged take on the material has divided critics, it remains a major financial player, holding onto 3,682 screens.

‘GOAT’ (2026)

Sony Pictures Releasing continues to score with this animated sports comedy, which held the number one spot for a second consecutive week. Featuring the voice of Caleb McLaughlin as a small goat with big dreams of playing professional “roarball,” the film earned $17,000,000. With a relatively soft drop of 37.5%, it has pushed its domestic cumulative gross to $58,301,328. The film’s family-friendly appeal and positive word-of-mouth helped it maintain a strong theater count of 3,863, averaging $4,400 per location.

Tell us which of these movies you are planning to see next in the comments.