\u201cCandyman\u201d hooked the top spot at the North American box office, impressively pulling in more than $22.3 million through a quiet weekend.<\/b>
\nBy Jonathan Landrum Jr.| Associated Press LOS ANGELES \u2014 \u201cCandyman\u201d hooked the top spot at the North American box office. The Universal Pictures film starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II impressively pulled in more than $22.3 million through a quiet weekend despite concerns over the delta variant. The R-rated horror movie, co-written by Jordan Peele and directed by Nia DaCosta, delves into an urban legend that believes if someone repeats \u201cCandyman\u201d five times in front of a mirror, that person would summon the hook-handed killer. The sequel is a follow up to the original \u201cCandyman\u201d in 1992. The new film expects to gross $5.23 million in 51 international markets. \u201cIt was a quiet weekend, but it was another check mark in the success column for horror,\u201d Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. \u201cCandyman\u201d claimed No.1 over second place \u201cFree Guy,\u201d which scored first place at the box office the previous two weekends. The action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds as a background character in a video game, earned more than $13.5 million. After \u201cFree Guy,\u201d the numbers begin to substantially drop. Dergarabedian said consumers are being very selective in what they do outside of their homes, particularly when it comes to heading into theaters. \u201cWhen you have brand new movies, if they are of a genre that people love like horror or have star like Ryan Reynolds and a movie that\u2019s perceived to be great, people want to go out to see them,\u201d he said. \u201cThe other films that are either available on streaming and\/or not getting the greatest buzz or reviews are going to drop by the wayside. It\u2019s just the nature of this marketplace.\u201d In third place, \u201cPAW Patrol\u201d reeled in $6.6 million \u2013 a 50% dip from the film\u2019s opening weekend number. The Paramount film, based on the popular kids TV show, has garnered more than $24 million. \u201cJungle Cruise\u201d placed fourth with $5 million, helping the Disney action-adventure film starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt eclipse the $100 million mark in North America during a five-week span. \u201cDon\u2019t Breathe 2\u201d earned $2.8 million, \u201cRespect\u201d starring Jennifer Hudson brought in $2.2 million and \u201cThe Suicide Squad\u201d tallied just over $2 million. Meanwhile, \u201cThe Protege\u201d with Michael Keaton and Maggie Q pulled in $1.6 million and \u201cThe Night House\u201d had $1.2 million. \u201cBlack Widow\u201d barely held onto the 10th spot with $855,000. In eight weeks, the Marvel film starring Scarlett Johansson has accumulated more than $181.5 million in North America. Dergarabedian believes the box office could experience some growing pains in the coming weeks. \u201cYou\u2019re going to have a very top-heavy box office and particularly for films that are available on streaming,\u201d he said. \u201cIf they\u2019re not totally buzzworthy, then people will just stay at home and check them out there. \u201cIf those movies at the top are generating great word of mouth and goodwill with audiences toward going to the movie theater, that\u2019s good for the business long term,\u201d Dergarabedian said. 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.<\/p>\n