The first official weekend of 2023 started out strong with a $104.3M haul thanks to a few new releases and the strong holdover for Avatar: The Way of Water. 2023 is off and running starting off the yearly tally at $214.2M in its first nine days.

Avatar: The Way of Water is not sinking any time soon after grossing $45M in its fourth weekend, only a -33.2% drop from its previous frame. Its total gross is at $516.7M gradually making its way up the all-time highest grosses list. It crossed the $500M mark faster than Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Avatar and Top Gun: Maverick. The film now sits in 16^th highest of all time, with a chance to oust a few more titles within the next few weeks. It is important to note the global box office has surpassed the $1B mark and now sits at $1.19B.

M3GAN creeped its way into second place in its opening weekend after grossing $30.2M. Screenvision’s estimate was $12M which shows how the power of marketing can make fans excited to see films in theaters. To promote the film, actors dressed as M3GAN took over the Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams game on New Year’s Day and was featuring during The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon when the film’s Allison Williams discussed the film and was joined by a M3GAN. A sequel is already in the conversation due to the excitement surrounding the film. The film’s writer and producer James Wan said, “Everyone has been saying that we’ve lost the under-25 crowd, M3Gan is a clear indication that we have not.” M3GAN’s opening weekend audience was 62% A18-34, 53% female and 56% diverse (28% Hispanic/Lartinx, 21% Black and 7% Asian).

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish grossed $13.1M after its third weekend in theaters, only a -22% drop from last week. The film’s total gross is $87.7M.

A Man Called Otto was a limited release but popped up into the fourth spot over the weekend. Only in 637 theaters this weekend, its total gross came to $4.2M. Audiences became fans of Tom Hanks’ Otto already giving it a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s wide release is this weekend.

Finishing off the top five grossing films in the first full weekend of 2023 was Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The sequel film grossed $3.3M in its ninth weekend in theaters bringing its domestic total to $445.4M.

Next weekend brings the wide releases of three films:

Comedy House Party hits theaters this weekend. The story follows high school students who realize they have access to Lebron James’s house for an entire weekend while he is away. Starring Tosin Cole and Jacob Latimore. Estimated opening $8M

A Man Called Otto was a limited release last weekend but reaches the wide audience on January 13. Otto is mourning the loss of his wife, but his new neighbors allow him to see the world in a new light. Starring Tom Hanks. Estimated opening $12M

Plane is a story of a pilot who crash lands in a war zone during a storm and must find his way out safely. Starring Gerard Butler. Estimated opening $4M

The official trailer for Renfield was released. R.M. Renfield is an inmate ay an asylum, but many do not realize is actually one of Dracula’s servants. Starring Nicolas Cage, Nicholas Hoult and Awkwafina. Coming April 14, 2023. Estimated opening $17M

Evil Dead Rise also released the official trailer. Two sisters who reunited realized demons are threatening to posses their family. Starring Alyssa Sutherland and Lily Sullivan. Coming April 21, 2023. Estimated opening $15M