On a quiet weekend, ‘Old’ tops, ‘Snake Eyes’ sinks

Photo: The Canadian Press

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Gael García Bernal and Vicky Krieps in a scene from "Old." (Universal Pictures via AP)

M. Night Shyamalan’s “Old” easily won a slower weekend at the North American box office, while the G.I. Joe pic “Snake Eyes” lived up to its name.

Although both fresh offerings from major studios, moviegoers turned out in modest numbers on a weekend where there was the notable distraction of the Olympics as well as rising concerns about the delta variant.

Universal on Sunday said that “Old” grossed an estimated $16.5 million. Paramount’s “Snake Eyes” origin story brought in an estimated $13.4 million in ticket sales.

While not wildly far apart in grosses, “Snake Eyes,” starring Henry Golding as the warrior-in-training, cost significantly more with a reported $88 million price tag, excluding advertising.

Meanwhile “Old,” starring Gael García Bernal and Vicky Krieps as the heads of a family whose tropical vacation turns into a horror when they begin to rapidly age, was independently financed for around $18 million. Including international grosses, “Old,” which is based on the graphic novel “Sandcastle,” grossed $23 million worldwide in its first weekend.

“It’s an extraordinary debut,” said Jim Orr, Universal’s head of distribution. “M. Night Shyamalan is an amazing filmmaker and one of the best in the industry.”

Disney and Marvel’s “Black Widow” crept ahead to third place with $11.6 million, bringing its global total to $314.9 million, while last week’s No. 1 film “Space Jam: A New Legacy” grossed $9.6 million, down 69% from last weekend. Both are available to watch at home too: “Space Jam” is streaming on HBO Max, while Disney+ subscribers can rent “Black Widow” for $30.

The entire North American box office weekend generated around $68 million in revenue, according to Comscore. It's a far cry from just three weeks ago when “Black Widow” alone made $80 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. “Old,” $16.5 million.

2. “Snake Eyes,” $13.4 million.

3. “Black Widow,” $11.6 million.

4. “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” $9.6 million.

5. “F9,” $4.7 million.

6. “Escape Room: Tournament of Champions,” $3.4 million.

7. “The Boss Baby: Family Business,” $2.7 million.

8. “The Forever Purge,” $2.3 million.

9. “A Quiet Place Part II,” $1.3 million.

10. “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain,” $830,000.