Johnny Depp Tops Box Office with Ebenezer Debut

Johnny Depp has returned to the pinnacle of the North American box office with the release of Ebenezer, a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The film earned $19 million from 3,535 theaters during its opening weekend, securing the number one spot. Internationally, the PG-13 movie generated an additional $23 million across 63 markets, bringing its global opening total to $42 million.

This performance marks Depp’s first major studio role in eight years, following his appearance in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in 2018. His Hollywood career faced significant turbulence in 2020 after domestic abuse allegations by his ex-wife, Amber Heard, led to two high-profile defamation trials. Despite the controversy, a study by the National Research Group in April 2026 indicated that Depp remains a globally popular figure. The survey ranked him among the top ten actors who would motivate audiences to attend a cinema, placing him ahead of Tom Hanks and behind Margot Robbie.

Industry analysts suggest that while the opening does not represent a resounding embrace of Depp, it provides a significant boost for theater owners ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Paramount Pictures produced the film with a cautious $38 million budget. Depp was paid $5 million, a lower figure than his previous studio projects, with additional bonuses tied to box office performance. David A. Gross of FranchiseRe described it as a solid opening for a Christmas-themed film, noting that director Ti West brings a distinct edge to the material.

Audience reception has been mixed. Critics have been harsh, with the film holding a 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, viewers gave the movie a positive A- grade on CinemaScore exit polls. Demographic data shows that ticket buyers were predominantly older white women, with 52% of the audience being female and 58% Caucasian. Approximately 59% of viewers were aged 30 or older, and the film performed particularly well in the southern United States. PostTrak data revealed that around 50% of moviegoers cited Depp as their primary reason for attending.

The success of Ebenezer may encourage other studios to work with Depp. His next project is a 2027 action thriller titled Day Drinker for Lionsgate, which features Penélope Cruz. Additionally, Disney is reportedly considering another Pirates of the Caribbean installment. Depp has expressed openness to returning as Captain Jack Sparrow, though he hopes to send the character off on a better note. Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations stated that Depp’s Hollywood exile is effectively over, as the film proves he is once again marketable.

Other new releases had a more difficult time at the box office. Amazon MGM’s How to Rob a Bank debuted at number seven with $5 million from 2,810 theaters. The heist comedy, directed by David Leitch and starring Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz, and Pete Davidson, earned $5.1 million internationally for a global total of $10.3 million. Critics and audiences were largely unimpressed, with the film receiving a B- CinemaScore grade and a 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Sony’s Ghost Soldier, an action thriller starring Jim Caviezel, placed sixth with $5.2 million over the traditional weekend. The film has a lean $18 million production budget and holds a 36% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It opened behind several holdovers, including Warner Bros. Animation’s The Cat in the Hat, which remained in second place with $11 million. The animated family film has earned $36.7 million domestically but faces a challenging path to recouping its $92 million budget.

Godzilla Minus Zero dropped to third place after leading the charts the previous weekend, earning $8.31 million in a 75% decline. Despite the drop, the film has accumulated $48.1 million in North America. In fifth place, A24’s documentary You Can See Everything brought in $5.4 million in its fifth week. The film, directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, is nearing the $100 million domestic mark, a rare milestone for a documentary of nearly three hours in length.

Specialty releases also saw activity. A24’s comedy Club Kid earned $756,060 across 27 screens, while Amazon MGM’s I Play Rocky grossed $503,818 from 29 venues. Both films are scheduled to expand nationwide around Thanksgiving. Overall, the box office is currently 20% ahead of last year’s figures at this time, with exhibitors expressing optimism for the remainder of the month.

The industry anticipates strong performance from upcoming releases. Lionsgate’s Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping is tracking to open above $100 million next weekend. Following that, Universal’s Focker in Law and Disney’s Hexed are set to arrive for Thanksgiving. Paul Dergarabedian of Rentrak noted that these releases are setting the stage for an exciting holiday season, offering the industry a great opportunity to build momentum into the year's end.