“Guerra Civil”, with Wagner Moura, leads the box office and breaks all records in the United States

Dystopian thriller records A24 studio’s biggest debut ever and highest-grossing film for an R-rated production in 2024

The dystopian thriller “Civil War,” a new film from acclaimed director Alex Garland, made a stunning box office debut in the United States and Canada, grossing $25.7 million. This remarkable feat marks the first time a film from independent studio A24 has topped the box office in North America, setting a new box office record for the film company. Additionally, “Civil War” also recorded the largest opening for an R-rated film (rated “R” in the United States) in 2024, surpassing other high-grossing releases.

Exceeding expectations

Before its opening weekend, projections indicated that “Civil War” would gross as much as $20 million. However, the film surpassed these estimates to become A24’s first “blockbuster”. Before him, the horror film “Hereditary” had the studio’s biggest debut, earning $13.6 million in 2018, when it debuted in 4th place.

For A24, the success of “Civil War” takes on important significance, as it is also the most expensive feature film the company has ever made, with a budget of $50 million, plus additional costs for marketing and distribution. The film represents the largest-scale project to date for the independent studio, which made a risky bet. The production stars a foreign actor, the Brazilian Wagner Moura, and tackles a thorny topic: the political polarization of the United States.

Controversial theme and reception

In the controversial plot, 19 states seceded from the Union, forming an army of Western forces that advanced against the military might of the Eastern states in the United States. A reflection of the real division created in the country during Donald Trump’s government, the film follows a group of journalists trying to cover the military advance against the country’s capital. Targeted by gunfire and bombs, the journalists are played by Wagner Moura (“Narcos”), Kirsten Dunst (“Melancholia”) and Cailee Spaeny (“Priscilla”). The screenplay and direction are by Alex Garland, director of award-winning science fiction films such as “Ex-Machina” and “Annihilation”.

Reviews were mostly positive, leading the film to earn an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences, however, were more divided, with the CinemaScore poll giving a B-, in a possible reflection on viewers’ political passions regarding the production’s message. But A24 has a history of producing films that challenge, delight and divide viewers.

The premiere in Brazil is scheduled for Thursday (4/18), a week after the US launch. The date had been booked in advance by Bolsonaro activists so that it could serve as the target of a major boycott against the production, more because of Wagner Moura than the content. However, after having failed in all boycott attempts so far, the movement seems to have become empty.

The rest of the Top 5

“Civil War” was the only release this weekend in the United States, so several films already released in theaters filled out the rest of the box office chart.

The film starring Wagner Moura knocked “Godzilla & Kong: The New Empire” from the top spot after two weeks. In No. 2, the Warner Bros. and Legendary feature added $15.4 million in its third week, bringing its domestic gross to $157.9 million and $361 million at the worldwide box office.

“Ghostbusters: Apocalypse of Ice” remained in third place with $5.3 million from 3,350 theaters. After four weeks in theaters, the horror-comedy sequel generated $96 million domestically and $160 million worldwide, a modest performance for a $100 million production.

“Kung Fu Panda 4” rose from 5th to 4th place with $5.2 million in its sixth weekend. The animation grossed $173 million domestically and topped $452 million globally. With a production budget of $85 million, “Kung Fu Panda 4” is already a huge commercial success.

To top it off, “Dune: Part Two” returned to the Top 5 after a weekend absence, adding $4.3 million in its seventh weekend in theaters. The Warner Bros. and Legendary production has already grossed $272 million in North America and stands at $683 million worldwide, cementing its position as the highest-grossing film of 2024.

Trailers

Check out the trailers below for the top 5 most watched movies in the US and Canada over the weekend.

1| CIVIL WAR

2| GODZILLA AND KONG – THE NEW EMPIRE

3| GHOSTBUSTERS: ICE APOCALYPSE

4| KUNG FU PANDA 4

5| DUNE: PART 2

Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.