'Den of Thieves 2' snatches top spot in N.America box office

January 13, 2025 / 12:20 PM

Sharjah24 - AFP: Industry observers reported on Sunday that Lionsgate's heist movie "Den of Thieves 2: Pantera" broke the top spot at the North American box office this weekend with an estimated $15.5 million in ticket sales.

Strong Start for Crime Thriller Series

"This is a good opening for the second episode in a crime thriller series," said analyst David A. Gross. "These movies are made for audiences, not critics."

Gerald Butler stars as Los Angeles sheriff "Big Nick," who travels to Europe in pursuit of a dangerous gang of thieves. The film is inspired by the $100 million Antwerp heist of 2003, which remains the largest diamond robbery in history.

Disney's "Mufasa: The Lion King" Performance

Disney's animated feature "Mufasa: The Lion King" slipped one spot from the previous weekend, earning $13.2 million. Its total ticket sales have now surpassed the half-billion-dollar mark, with $188.7 million domestically and $350 million internationally.

Paramount's "Sonic the Hedgehog 3"

Paramount's action comedy "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" also dropped a position, landing in third place. The video game-based film had estimated ticket sales of $11 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Focus Features' "Nosferatu"

Also moving down one position from last weekend was Focus Features' Dracula-inspired film "Nosferatu," which brought in $6.8 million.

Disney's "Moana 2" Slips to Fifth

Disney's blockbuster "Moana 2" slipped from fourth to fifth place, earning $6.5 million. After seven weeks in theaters, its total ticket sales are nearing the billion-dollar mark, with $434.9 million domestically and $554 million internationally.

Domestic Box Office Overview

Gross noted that the 2024 domestic box office, while finishing strong with a six-week stretch, ended about three percent below 2023 figures and roughly 24 percent below the average of the three pre-pandemic years.