LOS ANGELES — Johnny Depp has returned to the top of the North American weekend box office, with Ebenezer opening at No. 1 and giving the actor his first studio-film debut atop the chart in eight years. The Paramount Pictures release collected an estimated $19 million across the United States and Canada during its opening weekend, according to Sunday studio estimates reported by The Associated Press.
‘Ebenezer’ Leads A Competitive Weekend
Directed by Ti West, Ebenezer launched in 3,535 theaters and generated an estimated $19 million domestically. The film added approximately $23 million from 63 international markets, taking its worldwide opening to about $42 million. Its reported production budget is $38 million, meaning the global debut has already put the film near that figure before marketing, distribution costs and cinema revenue shares are taken into account. The opening figures were detailed by The Numbers and AP.
The result placed The Cat in the Hat second with $11.4 million in its second weekend, while Godzilla Minus Zero finished third with approximately $8.3 million. The top 10 films generated roughly $86 million in North American ticket sales, making it a relatively quieter weekend overall despite Depp’s headline-grabbing return. Boxoffice Pro’s weekend analysis also placed Ebenezer comfortably at the top of the chart.
A Major Studio Return After Eight Years
The opening marks a significant milestone in Depp’s relationship with major Hollywood studios. His last major studio release was 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. In the years that followed, he appeared in projects outside the traditional Hollywood studio system, including the French-language film Jeanne du Barry, and directed Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness. People’s recent interview coverage examines his return to major studio filmmaking.
Depp’s Hollywood career faced uncertainty following the highly publicised legal disputes involving his former wife Amber Heard. The actor subsequently spent several years working largely outside major American studio productions. His new box-office result demonstrates that a substantial audience remains interested in seeing him lead a wide theatrical release, although one opening weekend alone cannot establish the long-term direction of his career. The Guardian’s report on Hollywood’s expectations for the film explored the significance of the project ahead of its release.
Audiences Turn Out To See Depp As Scrooge
In the film, Depp takes on the iconic role of Ebenezer Scrooge in a supernatural reimagining of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. The story follows the wealthy, miserly businessman as he is confronted by supernatural visitors and forced to reckon with his past, present and possible future. The film’s official synopsis and cast information are available through Paramount Pictures.
West, known for his work on the X horror franchise, brings a darker, gothic atmosphere to the familiar Christmas story. Depp is joined by Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley and Ian McKellen, among others. The film opened in U.S. theaters on November 13. Paramount+’s film guide provides further details about the production, characters and release.
Audience research suggests Depp’s star power played a meaningful role in the opening. According to exit-poll figures cited by AP, 51% of moviegoers said Depp was a reason they bought a ticket, while approximately 65% said they would definitely recommend the film to friends. Critics were less enthusiastic, with the film receiving a 52% score on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of the report. The difference between audience interest and critical response will be one of the factors to watch as the film enters its second weekend. AP’s box-office report includes the early audience data.
Can The Opening Become A Lasting Comeback?
While the No. 1 debut is an encouraging commercial result, the film’s longer-term performance will be more revealing. Its reported $42 million global opening is a promising start against a $38 million production budget, but theatrical economics involve additional costs and revenue-sharing arrangements. Sustained attendance over the coming weeks will help determine whether Ebenezer can build on its first-place launch.
Depp is also expected to return to theaters in Day Drinker, a thriller scheduled for March 2027, according to People. That upcoming release gives the actor another opportunity to test audience interest in his work within the studio-backed film market.
For now, Ebenezer has delivered the headline result: Johnny Depp is back at No. 1. Whether the opening signals a sustained Hollywood comeback or a strong one-film event will depend on how audiences respond in the weeks ahead.