Depp Film Opens at No. 1

Johnny Depp’s new film “Ebenezer” opened in first place at the North American box office this weekend with an estimated $19 million in ticket sales. The Paramount Pictures release, which is based on a Charles Dickens tale, was shown in 3,535 theaters. This performance marks Depp’s first No. 1 opening in eight years and his first studio movie release in that same period.

The film’s debut comes six years after Depp departed the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise and three years after he stated he had no further need for Hollywood. While the opening is not in the same range as his "Pirates of the Caribbean" entries, which opened with over $100 million, it is a strong start for a production with a reported budget of $38 million. Internationally, the movie grossed $23 million from 63 markets, bringing its global debut total to $42 million.

PostTrak exit polls indicated the audience for “Ebenezer” was 52% female and 81% over the age of 25. Approximately 65% of ticket buyers said they would definitely recommend the film to friends. In contrast, 47% of viewers aged 12 and under said they would tell friends they must see it right away. The movie is rated PG-13 and directed by Ti West, who is known for the horror franchise X. The cast also includes Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, and Daisy Ridley.

Critic reception has been mixed, with the film currently holding a 52% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the varied reviews, Depp remains the primary draw for many viewers. Exit poll data shows that 51% of moviegoers cited Depp as their reason for attending the screening. His next film, a revenge thriller titled “Day Drinker,” is scheduled for a March release from Lionsgate.

Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Rentrak, noted that the personal lives of stars generally do not impact box office numbers. He stated that the key factor now will be the film’s long-term playability. Dergarabedian added that the movie’s performance suggests it has staying power, though the weekend overall was slower than the previous one, with total North American ticket sales reaching approximately $86 million.

“The Cat in the Hat” finished in second place in its second weekend with $11.4 million. “Godzilla Minus Zero” placed third with $8.3 million, a 73% drop from its opening weekend. “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” took fourth place with $5.5 million, while the Elizabeth Holmes documentary “You Can See Everything” rounded out the top five with just under $5.5 million, bringing its domestic total to $89 million. Dergarabedian described the documentary as the “have you seen” movie of the moment.

Other new releases had lower openings. Sony’s “Ghost Soldier,” starring Jim Caviezel, debuted in sixth place with $5.2 million from 2,558 theaters. Amazon MGM Studios’ “How to Rob a Bank,” directed by David Leitch, landed in seventh place with just under $5.2 million from 2,810 theaters. The film, which had a reported net production budget of $40 million, also earned $5.1 million internationally.

Business is expected to increase next weekend with the release of “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.” James Gray’s crime thriller “Paper Tiger” opened in six locations in New York and Los Angeles, earning $215,009 before a nationwide expansion. Jordan Firstman’s “Club Kid” saw a limited expansion with $756,060 across 27 screens. “Wild Horse Nine” added 1,075 theaters in its second weekend, generating $4.6 million.