James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water regained the number one spot at the box office after a brief challenge from the previews of a new zombie horror film. While the film received strong reviews before its release, it hasn’t performed as well as expected, potentially impacting plans for a sequel.
Following the success of last year’s 28 Years Later, The Bone Temple continues the story that began with 28 Days Later in 2002, starring Cillian Murphy, and continued in 28 Weeks Later. This new installment offers a grim and unsettling look at faith and perseverance in extreme conditions. However, its quick release – only seven months after 28 Years Later – suggests audiences might not be ready for another dose of the terrifying Rage Virus so soon.
January and February are usually slow months for movie releases, and it was odd to see The Bone Temple quietly debut given the success of 28 Years Later last summer. While early screenings looked promising, The Bone Temple is expected to earn only $13 million this weekend, or $15 million including the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. This is significantly less than the predicted $20 million and half of what 28 Years Later made in its opening weekend last June. Worldwide, the film is projected to earn around $31.1 million, which is only half of its $63 million production budget.
Nia Da Costa directs the new film, The Bone Temple, taking over from Danny Boyle. Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, and Alfie Williams are all back in their previous roles. Cillian Murphy also returns, and his part is likely to be bigger in the potential third movie if the studio decides to make it.
‘The Bone Temple’s Failure Has Been Unexpected
Reviews for The Bone Temple have been overwhelmingly positive, with almost no negative feedback. This has led to a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated film in the series so far. However, despite the good reviews, the movie didn’t perform well in theaters, so Avatar: Fire and Ash remains the top movie for another week.
The box office results were a surprise for many. While the new Avatar movie earned $17.2 million over the weekend (expected by Monday), it only outperformed its competitor by a small margin of $300,000. The Bone Temple, which was predicted to be number one, ended up in second place. The top five movies domestically were rounded out by Zootopia 2, The Housemaid, and Marty Supreme.
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Despite filming 28 Years Later and The Bone Temple close together, the future of the franchise is uncertain. Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland initially planned a trilogy, but it’s currently unknown if that will happen. While The Bone Temple is receiving good reviews and positive buzz, which could boost ticket sales gradually, a slow start at the box office in January might lead many viewers to wait for the film’s release on DVD and streaming.
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2026-01-19 01:17