Box Office | 'The Nun 2' Conquers the Box Office with an Impressive $32.4 Million Opening Weekend While 'Barbie' Slides

Just as with many horror films that came before it, negative reviews failed to deter moviegoers from flocking to see "The Nun II". This sequel to the 2018 hit emerged as the reigning champion at the North American box office during its inaugural weekend, raking in an estimated $32.6 million.

According to Brian Truitt of USA TODAY, it's deemed "a significant improvement over the first 'Nun'," yet it only managed to secure fifth place among the nine entries in the "Conjuring" franchise, with audiences awarding it a modest C+ on CinemaScore.

However, in the world of cinema, horror has proven itself to be a genre remarkably resistant to critical opinion, at least when it comes to opening weekend performance.

Directed by Michael Graves and starring Taissa Farmiga and Storm Reid, this sequel fell short of the debut earnings of its predecessor ($53.8 million), but it still boasts a robust start. The "The Nun" films are part of the sprawling "Conjuring" universe, which has amassed a staggering $2.1 billion in box office revenue. The sequel also made a strong showing on the international stage, amassing $52.7 million across 69 markets (with Mexico leading at $8.9 million), resulting in a global debut of $85.3 million.

Furthermore, horror enthusiasts can anticipate a spine-chilling lineup of films throughout the fall, including "Saw X" on September 29 and "The Exorcist: Believer" on October 6.

In its second weekend, "The Nun II" pushed Denzel Washington's "Equalizer 3" into the second spot. "Equalizer" accrued an additional $12.1 million, bringing its domestic earnings to $61.9 million and its worldwide total to $107.7 million.

Securing third place was another newcomer: the third installment of Nia Vardalos's "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," arriving 21 years after the original film achieved sleeper hit status, grossing $369 million against a $5 million production budget. The third film earned an estimated $10 million, largely propelled by female audiences (71%), particularly those aged 25 and older (83%).

Vardalos assumed multiple roles in "Greek Wedding 3," serving as writer, director, and star, reuniting with John Corbett as the story unfolds in Greece. Jocelyn Noveck of the AP likened the film, which has garnered mixed reviews, to “a reheated slice of baklava.”

In fourth place, the Indian revenge thriller, "Jawan," featuring Shah Rukh Khan, debuted with $6.2 million from just 813 locations. Released in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, Khan, a Bollywood sensation, has also spearheaded another box office sensation this year with "Pathaan," which has amassed $130 million worldwide.

"Barbie," set to become available on demand on Tuesday, descended to fifth place after an impressive eight-week run, now boasting $5.9 million in earnings, and a remarkable domestic total of $620.5 million.