‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ Tops U.K., Ireland Box Office

Disney’s “Avengers: Endgame Encore” dominated the U.K. and Ireland box office, debuting in first place with £4.1 million ($5.5 million) across its opening frame.

“Resident Evil,” distributed by Sony, moved to second position in its sophomore frame, collecting $3 million to elevate its running total to $11.6 million. Paramount’s action thriller “Heart of the Beast,” starring Brad Pitt and J.K. Simmons, bowed in third place with an opening haul of $2.8 million.

Universal’s “Sense and Sensibility” opened in fourth position, generating $2 million in its debut frame. Studiocanal’s animated release “Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom” took fifth place in its second weekend, adding $1.1 million to push its cume to $3.4 million.

Warner Bros.’ “Practical Magic 2” placed sixth in its third frame with $1 million, advancing its gross to $9.5 million. Studiocanal’s “Pressure” held seventh spot in its third week, adding $780,739 for a running total of $7.6 million.

Universal’s “The Odyssey” followed in eighth place taking $494,831 to lift its total to $117.1 million. Sony’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” landed in ninth position in its ninth frame with $422,187, lifting its total to $134.6 million. Prathyangira Cinemas rounded out the top 10 with Indian title “The Paradise,” which banked $358,942 in its opening session.

Looking ahead to the upcoming theatrical frame,rollouts began on Monday with Underground Slate launching Matt Leutwyler’s sports drama “Fight Like a Girl” across 25+ locations. Mid-week event programming on Wednesday features Altitude’s documentary “Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie” and Trafalgar Releasing’s music title “Linkin Park: Unshatter”. Thursday includes Zee Studios International’s Indian release “Baththa”.

Wide and saturation debuts on Friday across 300+ locations are led by Warner Bros.’ Tom Cruise drama “Digger.” Sony will also launch the Colleen Hoover psychological thriller adaptation “Verity,” starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett, alongside Universal’s “Girls Like Girls,” directed by Hayley Kiyoko across 100+ screens.

Specialized, limited, and international offerings arriving Friday include Vertigo Releasing’s sci-fi title “April X” across 25+ locations and comedy “Extra Geography” across 25+ sites; MetFilm Distribution’s drama “The Weight,” starring Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe; Avelina Prat’s “The Portuguese House” via AX1 Films; TAPE Collective’s “Cotton Queen” across 25+ screens; Cyrus Neshvad’s “Child” across 25+ locations; and Dartmouth Films’ “Derek vs Derek” across 25+ sites. Additional specialized titles include Tull Stories’ ocean documentary “How Deep Is Your Love” across 25+ screens, Journeyman Pictures’ “Kikuyu Land” across 25+ locations, Dreamz Entertainment’s “The Trouble”, MVD’s “Don’t Trouble The Trouble”, and Zee Studios International’s “Drishyam: The Conclusion.”

Archival and event screenings are highlighted by BFI Distribution’s 4K restoration of Madness feature “Take It or Leave It” across 25+ locations. The weekend continues on Saturday with Trafalgar Releasing’s event broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera’s “Cosi Fan Tutte”, before Park Circus re-releases the 20th anniversary restoration of “Casino Royale,” starring Daniel Craig, across 100+ locations on Monday.