- Indian rival royal factions clash outside palace
- Manga adaptation 'Drops of God' nets International Emmy Award
- China's Huawei launches 'milestone' smartphone with homegrown OS
- Philippine VP denies assassination plot against Marcos
- Four Pakistan security forces killed as ex-PM Khan supporters flood capital
- Hong Kong's legal battles over LGBTQ rights: key dates
- US lawmakers warn Hong Kong becoming financial crime hub
- Compressed natural gas vehicles gain slow momentum in Nigeria
- As Arctic climate warms, even Santa runs short of snow
- Plastic pollution talks: the key sticking points
- Indonesia rejects Apple's $100 million investment offer
- Pakistan police fire tear gas, rubber bullets at ex-PM Khan supporters
- Ronaldo double takes Al Nassr to brink of AFC Champions League last 16
- Pakistan police fire tear gas, rubber bullets at pro-Khan supporters
- Hong Kong same-sex couples win housing, inheritance rights
- Indonesia digs out as flooding, landslide death toll hits 20
- Liverpool's old guard thriving despite uncertain futures
- Mbappe takes reins for Real Madrid in Liverpool clash
- As AI gets real, slow and steady wins the race
- China's Huawei to launch 'milestone' smartphone with homegrown OS
- Porzingis and Morant make triumphant NBA returns
- Hong Kong top court affirms housing, inheritance rights for same-sex couples
- Philippines, China clashes trigger money-making disinformation
- Most Asian markets drop, dollar gains as Trump fires tariff warning
- England 'not quivering' ahead of New Zealand Test challenge
- Bethell to bat at three on England Test debut against New Zealand
- Trump vows big tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China
- New Zealand and England to play for Crowe-Thorpe Trophy
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- Trump to face less internal pushback in new term: ex-commerce chief
- Extreme weather threatens Canada's hydropower future
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- Australia ban cycling's Richardson for life after UK defection
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- 'Remarkable global progress': HIV cases and deaths declining
- Social media firms raise 'serious concerns' over Australian U-16 ban
- Tiger to skip Hero World Challenge after back surgery
- MLB shifts six 2025 Rays games to avoid weather issues
- US women's keeper Naeher retiring after Europe matches
- Dow ends at fresh record as oil prices pull back on ceasefire hopes
- West Ham stun Newcastle to ease pressure on Lopetegui
- Menendez brothers' bid for freedom delayed until January
- Arteta calls on Arsenal to show 'ruthless' streak on Champions League travels
- Israel bids emotional farewell to rabbi killed in UAE
- Sonar image was rock formation, not Amelia Earhart plane: explorer
- Tottenham goalkeeper Vicario has ankle surgery
- Prosecutor moves to drop federal cases against Trump
- Green light for Cadillac to join Formula One grid in 2026
- Romania braces for parliamentary vote after far right's poll upset
- US-Google face off as ad tech antitrust trial comes to close
'Ghostbusters' ices out competition as 'Dune' worms its way above $570 mn
"Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" scared its way to the top of the North American box office this weekend, taking in an estimated $45.2 million in what one analyst called a "unique and impressive opening."
"Only four other comedic series in the last 27 years have lasted five episodes," analyst David A. Gross said, with ticket sales for the latest entry in Sony's comedy series coming in "well above average for the genre."
Still, with a $100 million budget, "Frozen Empire" has a way to go to reach profitability.
Co-written by Jason Reitman, whose father Ivan Reitman directed the original "Ghostbusters" in 1984, the film teams a new cadre of ghost catchers (Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon) with the veterans (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson) as they take on a frightening deity trying to launch a new Ice Age.
Meanwhile Warner Bros.' sci-fi epic "Dune: Part Two," about war and survival in an inhospitable sand-covered planet, again managed a strong second place, taking in an estimated $17.6 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period.
It has now earned $233.3 million in the US and Canada and $341 million internationally, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported.
In third, dropping two spots from last weekend, was Universal and DreamWorks Animation's martial arts comedy "Kung Fu Panda 4," at $16.8 million.
"Immaculate," a new psychological horror film from indie studio Neon and starring Sydney Sweeney, placed fourth at $5.4 million.
Sweeney, a graduate of hit TV series "Euphoria" and recent rom-com "Anyone But You," plays a nun who -- despite her virginity -- becomes pregnant. Other nuns in her remote Italian convent at first treat her as the next Virgin Mary -- but then things start getting creepy -- very creepy.
And in fifth spot was Lionsgate's "Arthur the King," at $4.4 million. Mark Wahlberg plays an adventurer who befriends an injured stray dog.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
"Late Night With the Devil" ($2.8 million)
"Imaginary" ($2.8 million)
"Love Lies Bleeding" ($1.6 million)
"Cabrini" ($1.4 million)
"Bob Marley: One Love" ($1.1 million)
Y.Bouchard--BTB