Theater counts: Way of Water is once again widest release as we enter the new year

December 29, 2022

After 13-days at the domestic box office, Avatar: The Way of Water stands alone with $337.8 million, while taking in a whopping $762.8 million overseas since its release. With $1.1 billion already surpassed globally — and before the end of its second play week — it ranks as the #2 release of 2022 and #3 release of the pandemic era. The sequel will retain its debut count of 4,202 theaters this week, once again making it the widest release of the week.

In second place among widest releases this week is Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The animated adventure film adds 22 locations this week, making the film available in 4,121 venues. After eight days of release, it has earned just short of $39 million from North American viewings. Rounding out the top five with 3,625 cinemas this week is the Whitney Houston biopic, Whitney Houston I Wanna Dance with Somebody, followed by Babylon, in 3,351 locations, and lastly, Violent Night, still available in 2,563 movie houses.

Outside of Avatar: The Way of Water, as usual the week after Christmas is a slow one for new releases and that includes the usually bustling limited release category. One film however opening in limited release this week is A Man Called Otto. Starting out in four locations this week before expanding wide on January 13, 2023, the Tom Hanks starred film adaptation of the Fredrik Backman novel A Man Called Ove, the movie tells the story of Otto Anderson, a grumpy widower who’s only joy comes from criticizing and judging his exasperated neighbors.

Debuting in two locations this week is the latest documentary from Sony Pictures Classics in Turn Every Page: The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb. The film explores the fifty-year relationship between two literary legends, writer Robert Caro and his longtime editor, Robert Gottlieb.

Playing in Los Angeles area locations this week prior to its nationwide release on January 20, Alice, Darling is a psychological thriller starring Anna Kendrick, who portrays a woman who is pushed to the breaking point by her psychologically abusive boyfriend.

Making its cinematic arrival next week is the sci-fi horror movie M3GAN. The film about a life-like doll that begins to take on a life of its own is expected to debut in about 3,400 locations. M3GAN stars Allison Williams and Violet McGraw and is directed by Gerard Johnstone from a screenplay by Akela Cooper.

Theater Counts for December 30

Theater Counts for January 6

Bruce Nash

Filed under: Theater Counts, Avatar, Tom Hanks, Gerard Johnstone, Allison Williams, Akela Cooper, Fredrik Backman, Robert Caro, Robert Gottlieb