AceShowbiz - The much-anticipated Spider-Man spin-off "Kraven the Hunter" had a rocky debut in North American theaters, earning only $11 million. This figure marks one of the lowest openings for a Marvel-adjacent property, reflecting a broader trend of superhero fatigue among audiences. Despite the star power of Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Aaron Johnson) as the notorious villain, and intense preparation for the role, the film failed to captivate moviegoers, landing a dismal 15% on Rotten Tomatoes and garnering a "C" grade on CinemaScore.

In stark contrast, Disney's "Moana 2" maintained its dominant position, pulling in $26.6 million domestically in its third weekend, bringing its global earnings to $717 million. The animated adventure continues to draw viewers with its enchanting storyline, which reunites Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) and Maui (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) for a thrilling new quest. Universal's "Wicked" also held strong, earning $22.5 million and accumulating a global total of $525 million. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande and explores the origin stories of beloved characters Elphaba and Glinda.

Similarly, "Gladiator II" collected an additional $7.8 million, contributing to its domestic total of $145.9 million and $398.5 million globally. This Ridley Scott sequel, set in ancient Rome, extends the saga of power and vengeance, resonating well with fans of the original film.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros.' animated "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" struggled with a modest opening of $4.5 million, despite carrying the legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic narrative. Directed by Kenji Kamiyama and presented by Peter Jackson, the film explores the backstory of Helm's Deep and delves into the life of King of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand.

Sony's efforts in expanding the Spider-Man Universe through standalone films like "Madame Web" and "Morbius" have met with similar lukewarm receptions. David A. Gross from Franchise Entertainment Research notes, "As the superhero genre has declined over the last five years, 'Morbius', 'Madame Web' and 'Kraven' have led the race to the bottom."

As the year-end approaches, industry analysts anticipate that upcoming releases like Disney's "Mufasa: The Lion King" and Paramount's "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" will bring some excitement back to the box office. For now, however, it's clear that musicals and animated adventures are striking the right chord with audiences.

Top 10 of North American Box Office (Dec. 13-15, 2024):

1. "Moana 2" - $27 million
2. "Wicked" - $23 million
3. "Kraven the Hunter" - $11 million
4. "Gladiator II" - $7.8 million
5. "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" - $6.4 million
6. "Red One" - $4.4 million
7. "Pushpa: The Rule - Part 2" - $3.7 million
8. "Interstellar" (2024 Re-release) - $3.3 million
9. "Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem" - $2.3 million
10. "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" - $1.4 million