The Harry Potter spinoff "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" cast a spell over audiences in its debut, summoning $75 million, according to studio estimates Sunday and unseating "Doctor Strange" from the top spot.
Starring Eddie Redmayne and directed by Harry Potter alum David Yates, "Fantastic Beasts," a Warner Bros. release, cost around $180 million to produce and is meant to kick off a five-film franchise based on author and screenwriter J.K. Rowling's creation.
It's been scoring well with critics and audiences, who gave the film an A CinemaScore. According to the studio, 55 percent of attendees were female and 65 percent were over age 25.
"It's a real crowd pleaser," said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.' president of domestic distribution. He said the film performed especially well in small to medium-sized towns across North America, not just in the major markets.
It was a strong weekend for all-ages films overall in the lead-up to the holiday, with "Doctor Strange" placing second with $17.7 million and "Trolls" close behind in third with $17.5 million. The sci-fi mindbender "Arrival" took fourth with $11.8 million, while the themed comedy "Almost Christmas" brought in $7 million.
"Manchester by the Sea," expected to be a big awards player, got off to a decent start with $241,230 from just four theaters. It will be expanding in coming weeks.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday:
1. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," $75 million.
