Disclosure Day Is Like Old Times for Spielberg

Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day, billed as his first popcorn movie in years, launched with $44 million in domestic theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. Disclosure Day opened largely as expected, collecting $92.9 million worldwide over its first weekend. That was good enough to give the 79-year-old Spielberg, who conceived the film's story, his best opening weekend for an original movie, not accounting for inflation, the AP reports. Of course, Spielberg is the father of the modern blockbuster. But Disclosure Day, released by Universal Pictures, is his first summer movie in 10 years. And it opened in a much different movie world than that of Jaws or Jurassic Park.

Disclosure Day returns Spielberg to the subject of alien life. Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, and Colman Domingo star in a chase to reveal government evidence of UFO encounters. It cost $115 million to make. While a good start, Disclosure Day—like most original movies—will depend on strong legs to be successful. Reviews (80% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) have been strong, though audience response wasn't overwhelming. The movie landed a "B" CinemaScore. Meanwhile, the Obsession sensation continues. Although it opened with $17.2 million, the Focus Features release has exceeded that for four consecutive weekends. It did so again this weekend, collecting $19 million in ticket sales to bring its North American haul to $188.3 million and its worldwide total to $286.5 million. It cost less than $1 million to make.

With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak:

1. Disclosure Day, $44 million.
2. Obsession, $19 million.
3. Scary Movie, $14.5 million.
4. Backrooms, $11.3 million.
5. Masters of the Universe, $8.7 million.
6. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, $4.7 million.
7. Michael, $4.1 million.
8. The Furious, $2.8 million.
9. Stop! That! Train! $2 million.
10. The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act, $1.8 million.