Had Netflix stored Rian Johnson’s whodunit sequel Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery in theaters, it could have been one of many weekend’s high attracts. Last weekend, the streamer — in its first such pact with North America’s high chains — launched Glass Onion in about 600 theaters. While considerably lower than the 4,000-plus theaters most massive motion pictures open in, the Netflix movie reportedly grossed about $15 million — an enviable whole for a medium scaled launch.

Netflix declined to launch ticket gross sales and pulled Glass Onion on Tuesday, preferring to maintain its launch restricted to a one-week sneak-peak theatrical run earlier than debuting on the streaming service Dec. 23. Netflix’s focus, its executives have mentioned, is driving subscribers to its streaming service. On Wednesday, Reed Hastings, chief govt of Netflix, acknowledged the corporate left “lots” of cash on the desk within the transfer.

So as a substitute of feasting on Glass Onion, as ticket consumers did after Thanksgiving in 2019 when Lionsgate launched Knives Out, moviegoers had been fed principally leftovers this weekend.

For 4 weeks, the Walt Disney Co.’s Wakanda Forever has dominated the field workplace. Ryan Coogler’s Marvel film has totaled $733 million globally, together with $339 million in abroad gross sales.

Violent Night was the one new huge launch in cinemas. Starring David Harbour as a not-so-saintly Saint Nick, the Universal launch acquired off to begin. Violent Night, which earned a B+ CinemaScore from audiences, value about $20 million to make.

Though Avatar: The Way of Water and different vacation releases like Puss in Boots 2, Babylon and I Wanna Dance With Somebody loom within the coming weeks, theaters proceed to see fewer movies in huge launch than they did pre-pandemic. David A. Gross, who publishes the box-office subscription publication FranchiseRe, says that whereas there have been 58 franchise movies launched in 2019, there have been solely 32 in 2022.

There’s additionally been a dearth of household releases in theaters. After a muted debut final weekend, Disney’s big-budget animated fantasy journey Strange World dipped to 3rd place with a mere $4.9 million in its second week. Some of the season’s notable kid-friendly motion pictures are streaming, as a substitute.

The Roald Dahl adaptation Matilda the Musical, starring Emma Thompson, was made collectively by Netflix, Sony Pictures and Working Title Films. Netflix has worldwide distribution rights to the movie aside from the United Kingdom and Ireland, the place Sony put the movie into theaters final weekend. For two weeks, Matilda has been the highest movie on the UK field workplace, grossing $9.7 million over that stretch. In the US, Matilda begins steaming on Christmas.

Estimated ticket gross sales for Friday via Sunday at US and Canadian theaters, in keeping with Comscore. Final home figures will probably be launched Monday.

1. Wakanda Forever, $17.6 million.

2. Violent Night, $13.3 million.

3. Strange World, $4.9 million.

4. The Menu, $3.6 million.

5. Devotion, $2.8 million.

6. I Heard the Bells, $1.8 million.

7. Black Adam, $1.7 million.

8. The Fabelmans, $1.3 million.

9. Bones and All, $1.2 million.

10. Ticket to Paradise, $850,000.