The box office results for the weekend of May 5th, 2023, reveal a diverse range of films capturing audiences' attention. Paramount and Miramax's 'Scary Movie 6' dominated the charts, grossing $24.7 million domestically on its opening day. This achievement is particularly notable given the franchise's history and the involvement of the Wayans brothers, who have helmed the series since 'Scary Movie 2' in 2001. The film's success is expected to surpass the franchise record, currently held by 'Scary Movie 4,' which opened to $49.7 million in 2006. With a production budget of $30 million, 'Scary Movie 6' is poised to be a profitable venture, despite some critics' mixed reviews.
In second place, Amazon MGM's 'Masters of the Universe' struggled to make an impact, taking in $11.7 million on its opening Friday. Directed by Travis Knight and based on the iconic '80s action figure, the film's $200 million production budget may have contributed to its slow start. The cast, including Nicholas Galitzine, Idris Elba, and Camila Mendes, could not prevent the film from underperforming at the box office.
'Backrooms,' a liminal horror-thriller from 20-year-old Kane Parsons, secured the third spot with $7.9 million in its second Friday. Despite a significant drop in revenue from its opening weekend, the film's success is undeniable, having grossed $81.5 million domestically. With a modest budget of $10 million, 'Backrooms' is already one of the year's most profitable films.
Focus Features' 'Obsession' maintained its fourth-place position, earning $7.4 million on its fourth Friday. This horror thriller, which opened to $17 million against a budget of less than $1 million, has already grossed over $116 million in North America. The film's steady performance and low budget make it a notable success story in the industry.
Finally, 'The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act,' a surreal, animated dark comedy, debuted in fifth place with an estimated $4.6 million on Friday. Directed by Cooper Goodwin, the film follows a group of humans trapped in a cartoon virtual reality. While its performance is respectable, the film's success will depend on its ability to attract and retain an audience for its feature-length version.
