‘Godzilla x Kong’ to Lead Over ‘Monkey Man,’ ‘First Omen’

“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is poised to stomp all over the box office competition… again.

After its better-than-expected debut, Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment’s monster tentpole has generated $95 million domestically and $210 worldwide to date. Now, “Godzilla x Kong” looks to add $32 million to $36 million in its second weekend of release. Those ticket sales, down roughly 55% from its opening, will easily be enough to lead over two newcomers, director Dev Patel’s action-thriller “Monkey Man” and Disney and 20th Century’s supernatural prequel “The First Omen.”

“Monkey Man” is targeting $12 million to start, while “The First Omen” is projected to pull ahead with $14 million to $15 million. Holdovers, including “Kung Fu Panda 4,” “Dune: Part Two” and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” will otherwise round out box office charts.

“Monkey Man” was initially destined for Netflix and not the big screen. But Universal Pictures landed rights after Jordan Peele, whose production company has a distribution deal with the studio, saw and acquired the movie, feeling it was deserving of a theatrical release. It was picked up for $10 million, so it won’t take much to turn a profit in its big screen run.

Patel, in addition to directing in his feature debut, also stars in the politically charged film that takes on the Hindu caste system. He plays Kid, an anonymous man who exacts revenge on the corrupt leaders who are responsible for the death of his mother. Through his journey, he becomes the savior of the poor and powerless people. Reviews have been mostly positive, with Variety’s Owen Gleiberman praising the all the blood-soaked action. “The best thing about ‘Monkey Man’ is Patel’s staging of, and acting in, the fight scenes,” he wrote in his review. “They’re far more random and spontaneous than we’re used to, with a razory intensity.”

“The First Omen” is the sixth installment in the otherworldly franchise and its first new entry in 18 years. It’s eyeing a similar start to its series predecessor, 2006’s reboot “The Omen,” starring Liev Schriber and Julia Stiles. That film opened to $16 million and eventually powered to $119 million globally (not adjusted for inflation).

“The First Omen” was modestly budgeted and cost about $30 million to produce. This film, which takes place before the events of “The Omen,” follows an American woman (Nell Tiger Free) sent to work at a church in Rome. Once she’s there, she uncovers a sinister conspiracy to bring about the birth of the Antichrist.