AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER is poised to make a huge splash in its opening this weekend with $134 million from 4,202 theatres projected for the 20th Century Studios release, which sees James Cameron returning in the Director’s Chair and also as Writer. Its 2009 predecessor opened to $77 million in its debut. The Sequel gets 76% on the Tomatometer from Critics.

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER after five weeks on-top, slips to second with $6 million from 3,380 theatres for Marvel/Disney, a total run of $419.5 million domestically.

VIOLENT NIGHT is close behind in third with $5.3 million for Universal Pictures, a three week tally of $35.2 million.

Fourth is Disney’s STRANGE WORLD with $2.7 million, a total $34.2 million grossed to date.

THE MENU rounds-out the Top Five with $1.7 million, taking it to $32.1 million for Searchlight Pictures.

Not much change in the Top Two at the Box Office this weekend as BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER takes top spot a remarkable fifth consecutive week with $12.7 million, tallying at a total $411 million domestically for Disney/Marvel.

Second again is VIOLENT NIGHT with $8.2 million for Universal Pictures, a gross of $25.5 million over two weekends.

Third is Disney‘s STRANGE WORLD with $3.7 million, a total $30.5 million over three weekends.

In fourth is THE MENU with $2.5 million for Searchlight Pictures, a total $28.7 million grossed thus far.

Rounding-out the Top Five is DEVOTION with $1.9 million for Sony Pictures, a total $16.8 million to date.

For a fourth straight weekend, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER reigns atop the Box Office with $16 million from 3,855 theatres for Disney. In its domestic theatrical run thus far, it’s grossed $392 million.

In second in its debut is VIOLENT NIGHT with $11.8 million from 3,200 theatres for Universal Pictures. The bloody Holiday flick starring David Harbour, gets 70% on the Tomatometer from Critics.

Third is Disney‘s STRANGE WORLD with $4.4 million from 4,174 theatres. Over two weekends, it’s made $25 million.

THE MENU is in fourth with $3.6 million from 2,810 theatres for Searchlight Pictures. It’s made $24.7 million over three weekends.

DEVOTION rounds this Top Five out with $2.8 million from3,405 theatres, a total $13.8 million over two weekends for Sony Pictures.

For a third straight weekend, Marvel’s BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER tops the Box Office in North America. With $43 million expected to be grossed from 4,258 theatres between Friday and Sunday on U.S. Thanksgiving weekend, this puts the Sequel at $363 million in its run to date for Disney.

Debuting in second is STRANGE WORLD, also from Disney with $15.8 million from from 4,174 theatres from Friday to Sunday, a total since its Wednesday release of $22 million. This Animated Feature with a twist of Sci-Fi, gets 73% on the Tomatometer.

Third spot goes to GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY with $8.8 million in its debut, which actually is impressive since this is a Netflix release. It is playing at only 638 theatres, and gets 93% on the Tomatometer. Its 2019 predecessor bowed with $26.7 million it its opening weekend at 3,461 theatres.

In fourth we’ve got DEVOTION which like Glass Onion, premiered at TIFF ’22. It gets $5.6 million from 3,405 theatres for Sony PIctures. The Aviation pic starring Top Gun‘s Glen Powell and upcoming Marvel star Jonathan Majors, gets 80% on the Tomatometer.

THE MENU benefits from some positive word of mouth and lands in fifth with $5 million in its second weekend out for Searchlight Pictures, a total $18.4 million.

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER rules the Box Office a second straight week with $66 million from 4,396 theatres for Disney. This brings its two week tally to $290 million already in North America.

Second placing goes to a debuting THE CHOSEN: SEASON 3 Episodes 1&2, a faith-based release opening with $10 million from 2,012 theatres for Fathom Events/Angel Studios. The Series centers on the life and ministry of Jesus.

Third is THE MENU with $8.8 million from 3,211 theatres for Searchlight Pictures. The TIFF ’22 selection starring Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy gets 90% on the Tomatometer.

BLACK ADAM is in fourth with $4.1 million for Warner Bros., a total $156 million grossed domestically to date.

In fifth is TICKET TO PARADISE with $3.1 million for Universal Pictures, taking its total to $61 million.

Searchlight Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see THE MENU.

Screenings take place as follows:

• Toronto: Cineplex Varsity at 7:30 pm
• Montreal: Cineplex Forum at 7:00 pm 
• Vancouver: International Village at 7:00 pm 

Synopsis:

A couple (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) travels to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.

Directed by: Mark Mylod
Written by: Seth Reiss & Will Tracy
Produced by: Adam McKay, Betsy Koch
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Judith Light, Reed Birney, Paul Adelstein, Aimee Carrero, Arturo Castro, Mark St. Cyr, Rob Yang and John Leguizamo

To enter for a chance to win Advance Passes, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City there in the comments. Re-Tweet the Contest Tweet below for an additional chance.

Rules and regulations here.

Searchlight Pictures release THE MENU November 18, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)

By David Baldwin

Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) is a world-renowned chef who runs the ultra-exclusive Hawthorne restaurant that is located on its own island with a tasting menu that runs $1,250 per person. Among the guests is Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), a huge foodie, who has invited Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) last minute to join him for the evening.

Spoiling what comes next would ruin the outrageous fun and bleak, biting Satire that courses through the veins of THE MENU. It takes jabs at the low-hanging fruit of the 1% and sets its sights on a number of other targets we know all too well. Of course, this is before things start going completely off the rails into directions and material you will never expect. Some may find many of the stops the Film makes to be shocking or in bad taste, but it is clear that Emmy-winning Director Mark Mylod intended on making a provocative piece of cinematic decadence – as well as a Film that will leave you incredibly hungry.

At the centre of it all is Taylor-Joy, who walks the tight rope of tonal absurdity with razor-sharp precision. She is our gateway into the madness of THE MENU, and she relishes in alternating between having the time of her life and being frightened for her life. And who knew she could be so witty? Just solid work all-around for one of our greatest talents. Equally solid is Hong Chau (also at the Festival with The Whale), who plays Slowik’s assistant Elsa. She gets many of the Film’s best lines and moments, each one delivered more deliciously wicked than the last. Hoult plays obnoxious weasel well and a whole slew of recognizable Character Actors do their very best keeping up the Film’s momentum.

These great elements would be completely meaningless though if it was not for Fiennes. He brings a next-level energy to his certifiably deranged performance, reveling in being astute and well spoken in one breath and batshit crazy in the next. There is an additive quality to his work here, packing-in as much poignancy as he does poisonous barbs. I would even go so far as to call this his best performance ever; one that is substantially more terrifyingly unhinged than even his legendary work as Lord Voldermort.

THE MENU screens as follows at TIFF ’22:

Sat, Sep 10 IN-PERSON Royal Alexandra Theatre 8:30pm

Mon, Sep 12 IN-PERSON Scotiabank Theatre 9:00pm

Thu, Sep 15 IN-PERSON Scotiabank Theatre 3:00pm

Ralph Fiennes, Nicholas Hoult and Anya Taylor-Joy star in Comedy-Horror, THE MENU which will premiere at TIFF ’22.. Here’s a first look at the official Trailer for the upcoming Feature directed by Mark Mylod and produced by Adam McKay (Don’t Look Up).

Synopsis:
A couple (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) travels to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.

THE MENU arrives in theatres November 18, 2022 via Searchlight Pictures.

(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)