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\n\tNeon\u2019s Adam Scott-starring Hokum<\/em><\/strong> by Damian McCarthy (Oddity<\/em>) debuted with $6.4 million on 1,885 screens, a nice start for the witchy tale with a $5-million budget set in a creepy Irish inn. It pulls in at no. 5 in North America behind the likes of The Devil Wears Prada 2, Michael, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie<\/em> and Project Hail Mary<\/em>, big studio films all with much wider runs.<\/p>\n \n\tWhen novelist Ohm Bauman (Scott) retreats to a remote inn in Ireland to scatter his parents\u2019 ashes, he is consumed by tales of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite. Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance force him to confront dark corners of his past. Also stars Brendan Conroy, David Wilmot, Peter Coonan, Michael Patric, Will O\u2019Connell and Florence Ordesh.<\/p>\n \n\tNeon is selling the film internationally. It\u2019s the distributor\u2019s first release of its projects under a partnership with Spooky Pictures, which has a co-production partnership with Image Nation, and the latest in a partnership slate with Waypoint\u2019s Cweature Features.<\/p>\n \n\tThe opening gross speaks to the film and the overall strength of the box office, which is up 18% this weekend versus a year ago, according to Comscare. Hokum<\/em> is Certified Fresh at 86% on Rotten Tomatoes with an 82% Popcornmeter and a B Cinemascore.<\/p>\n \n\tAt no. 6 is Angel Studio\u2019s animated Animal Farm<\/em><\/strong> by Andy Serkis with a $3.4 million opening on 2,600 screens. Based on George Orwell\u2019s iconic allegorical novel, it features the voices of Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Glenn Close and Woody Harrelson.<\/p>\n \n\tMagenta Light Studios\u2019 shark thriller Deep Water<\/em><\/strong> debuted at 1,675 locations to $2.15 million. Directed by Renny Harlin,Produced by KISS\u2019 Gene Simmons, it stars Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley. An eclectic group of international passengers enroute from L.A. to Shanghai are forced to make an emergency landing in shark infested waters.<\/p>\n \n\tThe 36 Cinema Distribution\u2019s release with Variance Films of RZA\u2019S One Spoon Of Chocolate<\/em><\/strong> grossed $574k opening weekend on 636 screens. The Wu-Tang Clan founder directed, wrote and produced the revenge thriller that follows an ex-military convict (Shameik Moore) seeking redemption in a small town.<\/p>\n \n\tLimited<\/strong>: Francesco Sossai\u2019s Cannes-premiering The Last One For The Road<\/strong><\/em> from Music Box Films opened to $7.5k on two screens.<\/p>\n \n\tEvent<\/strong>: The Met:<\/em>\u00a0Live in HD<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0transmission of Tchaikovsky\u2019s\u00a0Eugene Onegin\u00a0<\/em>grossed circa $670k in North America with one screening (Saturday) at about 800 cinemas. Starring soprano Asmik Grigorian and baritone Iurii Samoilov, and conducted by Timur Zangiev in his Met debut, Encore screenings of\u00a0Eugene Onegin\u00a0<\/em>in select U.S. theaters on May 6. Directed for cinema by Gary Halvorson, hosted by mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato. The high-definition simulcasts, which reliably draw audiences, will conclude the 2025\u201326\u00a0season with<\/em> Gabriela Lena Frank\u2019s\u00a0El \u00daltimo Sue\u00f1o de Frida y Diego\u00a0<\/em>on May 30.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n