‘Dungeons & Dragons’ finds North America moviegoers are game

Steffany Wing attends the CasaTikTok Screening of Paramount Pictures’ and eOne’s “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” at the Sherry Lansing Theater on March 27, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.  (Getty Images via AFP)

LOS ANGELES – “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” scorched the competition in North American theaters this weekend with an opening take estimated at $38.5 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

The Paramount and eOne film, based on the popular role-playing game, also took in some $33 million abroad, a key audience given its cost of $150 million, said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.

“Foreign is where ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ has to excel to be profitable and become a series,” he said, adding that the film — a fantasy heist yarn starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Hugh Grant — “has the potential to generate sequels.”

While toy- and game-based movies often struggle, next weekend’s opening of “Super Mario Bros.” is expected to be one of the year’s biggest. And don’t forget “Barbie,” coming in July.

In second place this weekend was previous leader “John Wick: Chapter 4,” at $28.2 million. The Lionsgate action thriller, with Keanu Reeves in the title role, has drawn praise for elaborate stunts and choreography that have been called “spectacular” and “mind-boggling.”

Horror flick “Scream VI” from Paramount and Spyglass Media placed third at $5.3 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period. Its total domestic take of $98.2 million has surpassed last year’s “Scream,” which earned $81 million, Variety.com reported.

“His Only Son,” a faith-based drama from Angel Studios, also opened at $5.3 million — not bad for a movie made on a shoestring budget of $250,000. It tells the Biblical story of God’s directive to Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac.

And in fifth place was United Artists’ boxing drama “Creed III,” at $5 million. Michael B. Jordan directs and plays the title character.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” ($4.7 million)

“A Thousand and One” ($1.8 million)

“65” ($1.6 million)

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” ($1.2 million)

“Jesus Revolution” ($1 million)

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