Alex Garland's latest film “Civil War” has taken the box office by storm, surpassing expectations and earning $25.7 million in ticket sales in North America over the weekend. The R-rated movie, starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Cailee Spaeny, imagines a near future where California and Texas unite against a president who has disbanded the FBI and given himself a third term. The film has sparked intense debates and discussions, with media outlets like The New York Times, CNN, and Politico all weighing in on its themes and implications.

Despite opening on 3,838 screens in the US and Canada, including IMAX, “Civil War” managed to overperform in markets from Los Angeles to El Paso. The movie's success is a significant win for A24, the studio behind it, as it marks their biggest opening to date. With positive reviews and a strong audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, “Civil War” is expected to continue its success in the coming weeks.

In second place at the box office was "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," followed by Sony's "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" and Universal and DreamWorks' "Kung Fu Panda 4." The weekend's box office numbers saw a significant drop compared to the same weekend last year, with "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" bringing in over $92 million in its second weekend in 2022.

Overall, the box office year-to-date comparisons have taken a hit, with this year's total falling to $68.4 million compared to last year's $142 million. Despite the challenges, analysts remain optimistic about the future of the box office and the success of films like "Civil War.".