Disney's 'Eternals' tops domestic box office for 2nd weekend

Disney and Marvel's 'œEternals'ť took a steep drop in its second weekend in theaters, but it's still hanging on to first place ahead of newcomers like 'œClifford the Big Red Dog.'ť

'œEternals'ť added $27.5 million over the weekend, bringing its domestic total to $118.8 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. The film, directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao and starring Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani and Gemma Chan, fell 61% from its debut. Though not uncommon for a big superhero tentpole, it was significantly steeper than the 52% drop seen by the last Disney and Marvel offering, 'œShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.'ť

Both played exclusively in theaters, but the main difference is that 'œShang-Chi'ť simply got better ratings from audiences and critics. 'œShang-Chi'ť also became available to stream on Disney+ this weekend. 'œEternals'ť has made $281.4 million globally to date.

Second place went to 'œClifford the Big Red Dog,'ť which opened in theaters during the week and was also available to stream at home for Paramount+ subscribers. It made an estimated $16.4 million from 3,700 theaters over the weekend and $22 million across its five days in release.

Though critics were not impressed (it has a 48% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences were more forgiving, giving it a promising A CinemaScore. And 'œClifford'ť managed to do this in the face of uncertain moviegoing conditions for families.

'œThere's been a lot of talk about family audiences and whether or not they want to go to the movie theater," said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore's senior media analyst. 'œI think this is a really solid debut. It shows there is a demand for family films on the small screen and the big screen."

Blockbusters rounded out the top five with 'œDune'ť in third place with $5.5 million, 'œNo Time to Die'ť in fourth with $4.6 million and 'œVenom: Let There Be Carnage'ť in fifth with $4 million. Notably, 'œVenom 2'ť this weekend became only the second pandemic-era film to cross the $200 million mark at the domestic box office. The other was 'œShang-Chi.'ť

More and more awards hopefuls are entering the specialty box office as well, and many are making their way into the top 10. This weekend Kenneth Branagh's semi-autobiographical film 'œBelfast'ť made $1.8 million from 580 screens in its debut. In its second weekend, 'œSpencer,'ť featuring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana, pulled in $1.5 million from 1,265 screens. And even in its fourth weekend, Wes Anderson's 'œThe French Dispatch" continues to do well, adding $1.8 million and bringing its total to $11.6 million.

Outside the top 10, the Julia Child documentary 'œJulia'ť opened on five screens to $20,796.

'œThese films are in fewer theaters, but there is a demand for independent film which is one of the categories that everyone thought would be really hurt by the pandemic,'ť said Dergarabedian. 'œWe're really seeing signs of a much more normalized marketplace."

Next weekend, 'œGhostbusters: Afterlife'ť faces off against the Will Smith awards hopeful 'œKing Richard.'ť

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. 'œEternals,'ť $27.5 million.

2. 'œClifford the Big Red Dog,'ť $16.4 million.

3. 'œDune,'ť $5.5 million.

4. 'œNo Time to Die,'ť $4.6 million.

5. 'œVenom: Let There Be Carnage,'ť $4 million.

6. 'œRon's Gone Wrong,'ť $2.2 million.

7. 'œThe French Dispatch,'ť $1.8 million.

8. 'œBelfast,'ť $1.8 million.

9. 'œSpencer,'ť $1.5 million.

10. 'œAntlers,'ť $1.2 million.

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Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ldbahr