Chris Pratt’s New Thriller is On Top of This Weekend’s Box Office

This weekend’s box office landscape was defined by the arrival of high-concept science fiction and the continued dominance of established franchises. While new releases sought to capture the attention of moviegoers, several long-running hits and limited re-releases of legendary epics maintained their hold on the charts. From animated sequels to gritty dramas, the following titles represent the top-performing films currently playing in theaters across the country.

‘The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants’ (2025)

This animated feature earned $965,000 during its sixth week of release, bringing its total domestic gross to nearly $70 million. The story follows SpongeBob SquarePants as he embarks on a journey to find himself after losing his sense of purpose. Paramount Pictures International distributed the film across 1,416 theaters this weekend. This installment continues the long-standing cinematic legacy of the beloved Nickelodeon franchise.

‘Clika’ (2026)

Columbia Pictures debuted this musical drama, which earned $1,275,000 from 522 theaters in its opening weekend. Directed by Michael Greene, the narrative focuses on a small-town musician who seeks success in the Mexican-American music scene after a video of his performance goes viral. The film stars Jay Dee, Daniel ‘Doknow’ Lopez, and Uziel Pantoja Delgado. This release marks a significant entry into contemporary cultural storytelling for the studio.

‘Anaconda’ (2025)

Sony Pictures Releasing continues to see returns from this modern reimagining, which added $1,300,000 to its $62.1 million cumulative total. The film follows a film crew that encounters a legendary, monstrous snake while navigating a dangerous jungle environment. During its fifth week in theaters, the production maintained a presence in 1,807 locations. This version updates the 1997 cult classic for a new generation of horror and action fans.

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ (2002)

The second installment of Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy returned to 217 theaters for a special 2026 re-release, earning $1,600,000. This chapter follows the splintered Fellowship as Frodo and Sam continue toward Mordor while Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli defend the kingdom of Rohan. The film originally debuted in 2002 and remains a cornerstone of the fantasy genre. Its per-theater average during this limited engagement reached a notable $7,373.

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)

Concluding the legendary journey, this re-release earned $1,600,000 across 421 theaters during its second week back on the big screen. The narrative depicts the final confrontation between the forces of good and evil as Aragorn takes his place as king. The 2003 film originally swept the Academy Awards and continues to draw significant audiences in theatrical revivals. The total revenue for this specific re-release cycle has reached nearly $4 million.

‘Primate’ (2025)

Paramount Pictures International saw this horror-thriller earn $1,640,000 in its third weekend, pushing its total gross past $23 million. The film explores the terrifying consequences of scientific experimentation gone wrong within a remote research facility. Directed by Johannes Roberts, the project stars Troy Baker and focuses on survival against a primitive and deadly threat. It maintained a footprint of 2,145 theaters during this period.

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ (2001)

The film that launched the cinematic Middle-earth saga earned $2,000,000 this weekend in its 2026 re-release. Adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ introduces the ring-bearer Frodo Baggins and his diverse group of companions. This re-release played in 843 theaters, showcasing the enduring popularity of the franchise. It has generated nearly $6 million in total revenue since returning to theaters.

‘Hamnet’ (2025)

Focus Features expanded this historical drama, resulting in a 48% increase in revenue to reach $2,000,000 for the weekend. Based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell, the story explores the life of Agnes Shakespeare as she deals with the loss of her young son. The film is directed by Chloé Zhao and stars Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. After nine weeks in release, the production has amassed a cumulative domestic total of $17.6 million.

‘Return to Silent Hill’ (2025)

Iconic Events Releasing brought this psychological horror film to 2,000 theaters, where it debuted with $3,252,000. Directed by Christophe Gans, the film is an adaptation of the acclaimed video game ‘Silent Hill 2’. The plot follows a man who returns to the fog-shrouded town of Silent Hill in search of his lost love. This project marks the return of Gans to the franchise he originally helped bring to the screen in 2006.

‘Marty Supreme’ (2025)

A24’s sports drama starring Timothée Chalamet earned $3,546,857 during its sixth week of theatrical play. The film is a fictionalized narrative inspired by the life of professional ping-pong player Marty Reisman. Directed by Josh Safdie, the production has achieved a strong cumulative total of $86.2 million. It maintained a solid presence in over 2,000 theaters, demonstrating consistent audience interest throughout the season.

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

This sequel to the groundbreaking zombie franchise earned $3,600,000 during its second weekend of release. Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, the film continues the post-apocalyptic saga decades after the initial outbreak. Sony Pictures Releasing distributed the title to 3,506 theaters across the country. Despite a sharp decline from its opening, the film has reached a total gross of $20.7 million.

‘The Housemaid’ (2025)

Lionsgate’s thriller ‘The Housemaid’ secured $4,200,000 in its sixth weekend, bringing its impressive total to over $115 million. The story follows a struggling woman who takes a job working for a wealthy family, only to find herself embroiled in their dangerous secrets. The film is based on the bestselling psychological thriller novel by Freida McFadden. It remained a top performer this weekend, playing in 3,007 theaters nationwide.

‘Zootopia 2’ (2025)

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures saw its animated sequel earn $5,700,000 as it approached its tenth week in theaters. The film continues the adventures of officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they solve a new mystery in the sprawling mammal metropolis. With a total domestic gross of $401.4 million, it remains one of the most successful releases of the year. The production featured a wide release across 2,930 locations this weekend.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ (2025)

James Cameron’s third entry into the science fiction franchise earned $7,000,000 during its sixth weekend. The film introduces the “Ash People,” a new clan of Na’vi that represents a more antagonistic side of the world of Pandora. 20th Century Studios has overseen a massive run for the film, which now sits at a domestic total of $378.4 million. Despite the arrival of new competition, ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ continues to hold a significant share of the market.

‘Mercy’ (2026)

Amazon MGM Studios took the top spot this weekend with the debut of the science fiction action thriller ‘Mercy’, which earned $11,100,000. Set in the near future where capital crime has increased, the story follows a detective who is accused of a crime and must prove his innocence. The film stars Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson and was directed by Timur Bekmambetov. It opened in 3,468 theaters, achieving a per-theater average of $3,200.

Please share your thoughts on this week’s theatrical rankings in the comments.