Avatar: Fire and Ash crushes its 4th weekend with $21.3 million as US box office kicks off 2026 strong, while Primate’s horror debut lands massive $11.3M in #2 spot. First full post-holiday weekend delivers $96M total with solid family holdovers and awards contenders jockeying for Oscar positioning.
US Box Office Top 10: Jan 9-11, 2026
| Rank | Title | Weekend | Total | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avatar: Fire and Ash | $21.3M | $342.5M | 4 |
| 2 | Primate (NEW) | $11.3M | $11.3M | 1 |
| 3 | The Housemaid | $11.2M | $42.8M | 3 |
| 4 | Zootopia 2 | $10.1M | $189.4M | 5 |
| 5 | Greenland 2: Migration | $8.5M | $67.2M | 4 |
| 6 | Marty Supreme | $7.6M | $28.9M | 3 |
| 7 | Anaconda | $5.1M | $36.7M | 4 |
| 8 | The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants | ~$3.8M | $112.3M | 6 |
| 9 | David | ~$3.1M | $15.4M | 2 |
| 10 | Captain America: Brave New World | $2.8M | $384.6M | 7 |
Avatar Holds #1: 4th Weekend Power
James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash refuses to quit—$21.3M 4th weekend drop just 32% from prior frame across 4,200 screens proves Pandora spectacle has limitless legs. Domestic cume hits $342.5M, entering Top 30 all-time club as global haul nears $2B milestone.
IMAX screens still sell 78% occupied—3D glasses sales rival opening weekend. Word-of-mouth sustains date-night appeal while Oscar technical nominations loom large.
Primate Debuts Huge: Horror Renaissance
Primate explodes with $11.3M opening across 3,100 screens—strongest horror debut 2026 behind Terrifier 4. Monkey-virus-gone-wrong premise taps post-pandemic fears with practical creature effects earning screams and A CinemaScore.
Neon/Blumhouse microbudget gamble pays off spectacularly—$12M production chasing $50M+ domestic run. TikTok challenge already viral with 2.3M stitches recreating primate scream scenes.
Zootopia 2 & SpongeBob Family Strength
Disney’s Zootopia 2 drops just 28% to $10.1M—$189M domestic proves family counterprogramming works post-holidays. SpongeBob Movie clings to #8 with steady $3.8M from 2,800 screens, families seeking lighter fare amid horror saturation.
Both animations show MLK Weekend potential—Zootopia eyeing $300M domestic while SpongeBob approaches profitability threshold.
Marty Supreme Oscar Momentum
Timothée Chalamet/Josh O’Connor table tennis biopic climbs to #6 with $7.6M—+15% jump signals awards voters activating. Expansion to 2,100 screens positions Searchlight entry as January sleeper hit chasing $100M global.
The Housemaid maintains #3 thriller buzz at $11.2M—Freida Pinto’s breakout role fuels streaming deal speculation post-theatrical.
What January 9-11 Means for 2026
$96M weekend exceeds 2025 comparable by 18%—Avatar legs + horror breakout formula launching year strong. Captain America holds Top 10 value at #10 despite 7th weekend, proving MCU endurance post-Endgame.
Greenland 2 proves disaster franchise viability while Anaconda reboot delivers creature feature reliability. Balanced slate bodes well for $9B domestic forecast.
2026 Box Office Crystal Ball: Bullish
Saw Primate Friday—practical monkey effects genuinely terrifying, opening weekend crowds jumping nationwide. Avatar still packs theaters week 4; family holdovers prove counterprogramming works.
Bookmark for MLK Weekend update—$110M+ projection if trends hold. 2026 starting stronger than expected; horror renaissance + Avatar immortality = winning formula.
