Disney's spell unbroken as 'Encanto' stays top of N.American box office

Disney’s animated musical fantasy film Encanto stayed in top place at the North American box office this weekend, taking in an estimated $12.7 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

With original music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Encanto tells the story of a family in the mountains of Colombia endowed with special powers — except for daughter Mirabel, who ends up having to save the others. Voice actors include Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo and Diane Guerrero.

Sony’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the latest chapter in the wacky supernatural franchise, took in an estimated $10.4 million to place second for the Friday-through-Sunday period, cementing the hold of family-friendly films at the top of the box office.

Directed by Jason Reitman, whose father Ivan Reitman made the original 37 years ago, Afterlife stars Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon and Mckenna Grace in a ghostly tale that has shape-shifted from 1980s Manhattan to today’s small-town Oklahoma.

Ridley Scott’s new crime drama House of Gucci placed third at $6.8 million, continuing its healthy showing for an adult-oriented film at a time when Covid fears have kept many older viewers at home.

The MGM/United Artists film stars Adam Driver as Maurizio Gucci, the onetime head of the famed Gucci fashion house, and Lady Gaga — again drawing Oscar buzz three years after A Star Is Born — as Patrizia Reggiani, the vengeful ex-wife who in 1995 hired a hitman to murder Gucci outside his Milan office.

The star-laden cast also includes Al Pacino, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Irons and Jared Leto.

Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers, the first theatrical release of the popular streaming series from Fathom Events, took fourth place at $4.1 million, while Disney/Marvel superhero film Eternals placed fifth, at $3.9 million.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City ($2.7 million)

Dune ($1.8 million)

Clifford the Big Red Dog ($1.8 million)

King Richard ($1.2 million)

Venom: Let There Be Carnage ($1.0 million)