‘Ebenezer’ with Johnny Depp scores big as holidays near

Ebenezer, starring Johnny Depp, opened strong at number one in North American box offices, grossing US$19 million in its debut weekend. The film, a live-action adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol, follows Depp's character Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man visited by ghosts who learns the true meaning of Christmas.

This is the latest in a series of Christmas-themed movies, with the opening weekend figure considered solid for the genre. Industry analyst David A. Gross noted the performance as a good start for a holiday-themed movie. While critics have given the film mixed reviews, the audience score is highly positive. In second place was The Cat in the Hat, a Dr Seuss adaptation that brought in US$11.4 million in its second weekend in theaters.

Rounding out the top five was Godzilla Minus Zero, a Japanese take on the iconic monster film, which earned US$8.3 million. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki and distributed by GKIDS, the film continues the legacy of post-war Japan's fight against a giant three-headed dragon-like monster called King Ghidorah. Sony's Ramayana, an Indian wide release, was fourth with about US$5.5 million in opening weekend earnings.

Finally, A24's biopic You Can See Everything, about fraudster Elizabeth Holmes, held fifth place with US$5.5 million in its opening weekend, bringing its five-week total to an estimated US$89.8 million. Following the top five were Ghost Soldier, How to Rob a Bank, Wild Horse Nine, Wildwood, and Clayface.