New ‘Kung Fu Panda’ kicks all comers to top N.America box office

LOS ANGELES — “Kung Fu Panda 4” opened at the top of the North American box office this weekend and “Dune: Part Two” became the year’s first film to pass the $150 million mark domestically as movie-world glitterati gathered in Hollywood for Sunday’s Oscars ceremony.

“Panda”, a martial-arts comedy from DreamWorks and Universal, took in an estimated $58.3 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, according to industry watcher Exhibitor Relations, as Hollywood saw some improving results following a wan start to the year.

The film’s numbers were good enough — for part four of an animated series — to earn it a spot in an “elite” group including “Toy Story”, “Despicable Me/Minions”, “Ice Age” and “Shrek”, said analyst David A. Gross. Jack Black voices panda Po as he battles a shape-shifting enemy.

Denis Villeneuve’s epic “Dune” sequel from Warner Bros. meantime enjoyed a strong second weekend, earning a solid $46 million. That pushed the domestic total for the extravagant sci-fi flick with its lavish cast to $157 million. It has taken in an additional $210 million internationally

“Imaginary”, a new horror film from Blumhouse Productions and Lionsgate, came in third at $10 million — not a huge figure, but one nearly equaling its modest production cost, a formula that keeps the horror films coming. DeWanda Wise plays Jessica, who rediscovers her childhood teddy bear Chauncey — only to learn he’s not nearly as cute and cuddly as she once thought — certainly no Paddington or Pooh.

Fourth spot, with $7.6 million, went to Angel Studios’ new faith-based drama “Cabrini”, about a Catholic nun in 19th-century New York who clashed with politicians and church officials while trying to care for poverty-stricken immigrants. Cristiana Dell’Anna plays Mother Frances Cabrini, who was canonised long after her death.

And in fifth place, slipping three spots from last weekend, was Paramount’s biopic “Bob Marley: One Love”, at $4.1 million. Kingsley Ben-Adir plays the iconic reggae singer in the surprise box office hit, which has now taken in $89.3 million in North America.

There was some good news for those gathering in Hollywood: the domestic box office was down just three percent this week from a three-year pre-pandemic average, Gross said — “good numbers” after a pallid January and February.