Ghostbusters: Afterlife started with a strong gross of $ 16.5 million from 4,315 theaters at Friday’s box office in the United States.
The film, which is released before the lucrative Thanksgiving weekend in the United States , is managing to attract families, a victory for the recovery of the box office and the resurrection of the franchise.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is directed by Jason Reitman and is a sequel to the iconic 1984 film Ghostbusters , directed by his father, Ivan Reitman .
The story follows what happens when a single mother and her two children arrive in a small town and begin to discover their connection to the original ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife stars Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Annie Potts, and Paul Rudd , plus some cameos from the original Ghostbusters.
The weekend’s other firsts include the acclaimed biopic King Richard , starring Will Smith as Richard Williams , the father of tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams .
King Richard raised $ 1.9 million on Friday from 3,302 locations for a moderate North American screen debut in the $ 5.5 million to $ 6 million range (Warner Bros. had expected $ 7 million to $ 10 million) . King Richard is also available through HBO Max .
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green from a script by Zach Baylin , King Richard also stars Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn, and Jon Bernthal .
The film is expected to be a strong contender for the awards and is also being well received by audiences.