‘Shazam!,’ ‘Pet Sematary’ Top U.S. Box Office

Shazam! and Pet Sematary topped the domestic box office this past weekend, scoring the top two spots.

During the shared opening weekend, the new DC superhero movie earned $53.5 million, while the Stephen King thriller earned $25 million.

Shazam!’s paid previews (raking in $3.3 million) and word of mouth were each a major help for the DC movie starring Zachary Levi, especially considering the release was sandwiched between two Disney/Marvel films: Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame.

“We needed the movie to be its own friend in terms of creating interest,” Toby Emmerich, chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, tells Deadline.

Shazam! also flew beyond expected earnings, which ranged from $45 million to $50 million, according to Deadline. Meanwhile, Pet Sematary met the range Paramount Pictures and the industry expected.

Both films knocked Us and Captain Marvel out of the top spots in the U.S. The horror and MCU films moved to fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Dumbo swooped into third place, earning $18.2 million in the U.S. during its second weekend.

H/T Comscore

Photo: Paramount Pictures

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Victoria Rosenthal

Victoria Rosenthal is an editorial/office assistant at Adventure Publishing Group. She helps the office with its day-to-day needs, whether that's contributing and editing content for the The Toy Book, The Toy Insider, and The Pop Insider, helping manage Adventure Publishing Group's social media accounts, or setting up hundreds of toys! Scouting and testing out awesome new board and card games with friends is Victoria's jam, but hand her a PlayStation controller during a game of Crash Bandicoot, and don’t expect to get a turn. Don't forget to say, “Hello!” when you call the office!