Johnny Depp's Hollywood comeback, Ebenezer, is set to top the box office with a solid $20+ million opening weekend. That follows a combined $7.1 million from Thursday previews and Friday screenings.
Despite a mixed critical response (53% based on 116 reviews), audiences seem to have enjoyed this modern reimagining of a familiar tale. Ebenezer has been awarded an A- CinemaScore, which bodes well for its chances of success in the coming weeks.
In second place is Warner Bros. Animation's The Cat in the Hat, which is eyeing a $12 million second weekend. Godzilla Minus Zero, meanwhile, has slipped to third with a steeper-than-expected decline. The sequel seems to have been front-loaded, as it suffered a 74% drop, leading to an estimated $8 million this weekend. By Sunday, it will reach $48.5 million domestically.
Next up are Ramayana: Rise of a Legend ($5 million), You Can See Everything ($4.5 million), Ghost Soldier ($4 million), and the new release, How to Rob a Bank ($4 million) starring Nicholas Hoult.
Box office analysts have largely stopped following DC Studios' Clayface, but as of Wednesday, it had grossed $59.4 million in the U.S. Its run is winding down, so a Digital release date in the coming weeks now seems likely.
Following his Ebenezer return, the expectation is that Depp will reunite with Disney for a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. During a recent interview, the actor revealed what it would take for him to play Captain Jack Sparrow again.
"If things are exactly where they need to be with regard to how they are going to top off the Pirates franchise," the actor shared, "the only involvement I really want to have, truly, is just to send them off on a better note."
"I will go to work with [Jerry] Bruckheimer tomorrow for anything. Doesn’t matter... if it’s Jerry, I trust him. We have a deep friendship."
This November, Johnny Depp is Ebenezer Scrooge. The classic Christmas tale. Told like never before. From Ti West, Ebenezer also stars Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Charlie Murphy, Tramell Tillman, and Ian McKellen.
What are you heading to theaters to watch this weekend?