- Tyson says comeback at 57 was 'no-brainer'
- No.1 Scheffler, a new dad, hits Valhalla for PGA Championship
- Anthropic AI assistant 'Claude' arrives in Europe
- Brazil's flooded south paralyzed as rivers swell, again
- Celebrities face digital backlash over Gaza silence
- Former fixer Cohen testifies Trump approved hush money payment
- US authorities demolish part of collapsed Baltimore bridge
- More evacuated as early wildfires sweep western Canada
- Mbappe wins award for France's player of the year
- Duran double salvages draw for Aston Villa against Liverpool
- OpenAI gives ChatGPT new powers to see, hear
- Marsch named as new Canada coach
- Barcelona beat Real Sociedad to move second
- Global stocks tread water ahead of US inflation data
- Former fixer Cohen testifies Trump told him to pay hush money
- No.1 Scheffler arrives at Valhalla for PGA Championship
- Medvedev battles past Medjedovic and into Rome last 16
- 'Do it': Former fixer Cohen testifies he lied for Trump
- Brazil's flooded south paralyzed as waters remain high
- UN nears landmark deal on combatting biopiracy
- Georgia PM says copycat Russian law to be passed amid protests
- OpenAI releases faster model to power ChatGPT
- Melinda Gates to leave Gates Foundation, keeps $12.5bn for her work
- GameStop shares soar as 'Roaring Kitty' returns
- ChatGPT-maker OpenAI releases latest free model GPT-4o
- Georgia PM says copycat Russian law to be passed Tuesday amid protests
- Gujarat out of IPL play-off race after washout
- Michael Cohen, the 'fixer' who turned on Trump
- Melinda Gates to leave Gates Foundation, getting $12.5 billion
- Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof 'secretly' leaves Iran ahead of Cannes
- 'Do it': Former fixer Cohen testifies that he lied for Trump
- Four dead, 60 injured in Mumbai billboard collapse
- Iran director's escape, MeToo tensions build off-screen drama at Cannes
- Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof leaves Iran ahead of Cannes: statement
- In Israel, a 'different' Memorial Day amid Gaza war
- US to raise concerns at first AI talks with China
- Global share markets put brake on ahead of inflation data
- Former fixer Cohen testifies at trial that he lied for Trump
- Georgians protest anti-NGO bill as ruling party vows to adopt
- Giroud to leave AC Milan for MLS
- German court defeat deals fresh blow to far-right AfD
- Becoming undisputed champ only a 'bonus' for Fury
- Swiatek battles past Kerber as climate protesters invade courts
- Brazil's Lula delays state visit to Chile over historic floods
- IMF gives draft approval to Argentina payout of almost $800 mn
- Dazzling auroras fade from skies as sunspot turns away
- Former fixer Cohen testifies at trial he lied for Trump
- Gazans flee fresh fighting in north
- MeToo tensions cloud excitement on eve of Cannes film fest
- Postecoglou dismisses talk that Spurs fans will want to lose against Man City
Zendaya helps 'Challengers' net top spot in N.America box office
MGM's tennis-based romance "Challengers" opened this weekend atop the North American box office, taking in an estimated $15 million behind positive reviews and the powerful net game of actor/singer Zendaya, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
"This is a strong opening for a romance and sports drama," said analyst David A. Gross, crediting Zendaya's star power and the directorial talents of Luca Guadagnino (he of "Call Me By Your Name").
"This is the right material with the right director, featuring the right star at the right time," Gross said.
Zendaya plays a tennis prodigy who retires after an injury, then later helps her husband (Mike Faist) prepare for a key match against a player (Josh O'Connor) who, awkwardly enough, is both her former lover and his onetime best friend.
By the way, yes, Zendaya can play tennis. She trained for three months with tennis pro Brad Gilbert, and Guadagnino told Variety that she was so good he rarely had to use film of her double.
In second spot for the Friday-through-Sunday period was another new release, Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company's faith-based drama "Unsung Hero," at $7.8 million.
The partly fact-based film follows a man who moves his music-loving family from Australia to the United States after his concert promotion business collapses. Friendly fellow churchgoers and the power of prayer (spoiler alert) just might help him and his seven kids turn things around.
In third, for the second straight weekend, was Warner Bros.' "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," at $7.2 million. The humongous gorilla and giant reptile, not natural buddies, team up this time to save their species -- and ours.
Meantime, A24's "Civil War," a disturbing saga about a dystopian America in the near future, dropped three places from last weekend's top spot, earning $7 million.
Kirsten Dunst plays a veteran photojournalist who finds herself increasingly tormented as she travels through a blood-soaked country in hopes of interviewing a besieged third-term president.
And in fifth, down two spots, was Universal's horror film "Abigail" at $5.3 million. Alisha Weir plays 12-year-old Abigail, whose kidnappers learn too late that she is a killer vampire.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
"The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare" ($3.9 million)
"Kung Fu Panda 4" ($3.6 million)
"Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" ($3.3 million)
"Dune: Part Two" ($1.9 million)
"Boy Kills World" ($1.7 million)
C.Kovalenko--BTB