- Scientists sound AI alarm after winning physics Nobel
- Nobel-winning physicist 'unnerved' by AI technology he helped create
- Trump secretly sent Covid tests to Putin: Bob Woodward book
- Neural networks, machine learning? Nobel-winning AI science explained
- Boeing delivers 27 MAX jets in September despite strike
- Stock markets diverge as Hong Kong sinks, oil prices fall
- US trade gap narrowest in five months as imports slip
- Stay and 'you are going to die': Florida braces for next hurricane
- Geoffrey Hinton, soft-spoken godfather of AI
- Duo wins Physics Nobel for 'foundational' AI breakthroughs
- German 'Maddie' suspect could be free in 2025 after cleared of separate sex crimes
- China slaps provisional tariffs on EU brandy imports
- Duo wins Physics Nobel for key breakthroughs in AI
- German 'Maddie' suspect could be free soon after cleared of separate sex crimes
- China says to take anti-dumping measures against EU brandy imports
- China stocks rally fizzles on stimulus worries amid Asia retreat
- China stocks rally peters out on stimulus worries amid Asia retreat
- Taiwan's Foxconn says building world's largest 'superchip' plant
- Nobel literature jury may go for non-Western writer
- From Bolivia to Indonesia, deforestation continues apace
- China holds off on fresh stimulus but 'confident' will hit growth target
- German suspect in 'Maddie' case faces verdict in sex crimes trial
- Top economic official 'confident' China will hit 2024 growth target
- COP29 fight looms over climate funds for developing world
- Shanghai stocks soar to extend stimulus rally amid Asia-wide drop
- Will Tesla's robotaxi reveal live up to hype?
- 'Invisibility' and quantum computing tipped for physics Nobel
- Oil prices extend gains on Mideast tensions, Wall Street falls
- 'Dark day': Victims mourned around the globe on Oct. 7 anniversary
- Mission to probe smashed asteroid launches despite hurricane
- Oil prices extend gains on Mideast tensions, Wall Street slips
- Europe's asteroid mission Hera launches despite hurricane
- Oil prices extend gains on Mideast tensions, Wall Street retreats
- What is microRNA? Nobel-winning discovery explained
- Weather may delay launch of mission to study deflected asteroid
- China to flesh out economic stimulus plans after bumper rally
- Asian markets track Wall St rally on US jobs data
- World marks anniversary of Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- Asian markets track Wall St rally on jobs data
- Cancer, cardiovascular drugs tipped for Nobel as prize week opens
- Tunisia incumbent Saied set to win presidential vote: exit polls
- 'Difficult day': Oct 7 commemorations begin with festival memorial
- Commemorations begin for anniversary of attack on Israel
- Tunisia voting ends as Saied eyes re-election with critics behind bars
- Drowned by hurricane, remote N.Carolina towns now struggle for water
- Two elephants die in flash flooding in northern Thailand
- Tunisia votes with Saied set for re-election
- Too hot by day, Dubai's floodlit beaches are packed at night
- A 'forgotten' valley in storm-hit North Carolina, desperate for help
- Italy targets climate activists in 'anti-Gandhi' demo clampdown
'Avatar' sequel dominates N.America movie screens
Sci-fi epic "Avatar: The Way of Water," the long-awaited sequel to James Cameron's 2009 blockbuster, swamped the competition at North American theaters, taking in an estimated $134 million, industry estimates showed Sunday.
That big number -- roughly 10 times the total take of the next four films on the top 10 -- was nevertheless below analysts' expectations for the Friday-through-Sunday period.
Still, international ticket sales of an additional $300 million gave the "Avatar" sequel a sizable $434 million total, according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations.
That makes it one of the biggest cinematic openings in pandemic times, and its combination of dazzling visuals and big-screen lure are expected to be a box office draw for weeks.
"Expectations aside, this is outstanding," said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment research. "The movie is set up for a very strong run through the holidays."
"The Way of Water" picks up the story of the extrasolar moon Pandora more than a decade after the events portrayed in the 2009 original.
US Marine Jake Sully (played by Sam Worthington) has by now transitioned into one of the tall, blue Na'vi people and works with them to protect their home from an ominous threat.
Disney/Marvel powerhouse sequel "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," which had topped the box office for five weeks, was pushed back into a distant second by "Avatar," with a weekend take of $5.4 million.
Its domestic total now stands at a solid $419 million.
In third place was action comedy "Violent Night" from Universal at $5 million. David Harbour stars as Santa Claus, with a twist: he is forced to fight a team of mercenaries who have taken a wealthy family hostage in Connecticut.
Disney's computer-animated feature "Strange World" settled into fourth place with a take of $2.2 million.
And rounding out the top five was Searchlight's horror-comedy "The Menu," starring Ralph Fiennes, at $1.7 million.
The rest of the top 10 is as follows:
"Devotion" ($825,000)
"The Fabelmans" ($750,000)
"Black Adam" ($500,000)
"I Heard the Bells" ($309,000)
"Empire of Light" ($235,000)
M.P.Jacobs--CPN