After narrowly losing first place in its opening weekend, “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” has surged ahead of “Mortal Kombat” on U.S. box office charts.

The anime action-adventure “Demon Slayer” is expected to end the weekend with $6.4 million in ticket sales, while “Mortal Kombat” trails closely behind with $6.2 million between Friday and Sunday. Both films debuted last weekend and dipped roughly 70% from their initial outings.

In normal times, those figures would have been somewhat disappointing for nationwide releases but during a pandemic, it’s not a terrible result. Still, it leaves lingering questions about when moviegoing will return in earnest -- and if upcoming potential blockbusters like “A Quiet Place Part II,” Marvel’s “Black Widow” and “Fast and Furious” sequel “F9” will premiere as expected this summer.

“Demon Slayer,” which is playing in 1,915 North American venues, has earned an impressive $34.1 million in the U.S. and Canada to date. The film, from Funimation and Aniplex, has surpassed “Dragon Ball: Super Broly” ($30 million) to become the third-highest grossing anime title in North America.

Overseas, the latest 'Demon Slayer'&nbsp;has already set several box office records. In Japan, it has become the highest-grossing movie ever with ticket sales surpassing $368 million. It’s also the highest-grossing anime film ever with $423 million globally.

'Mortal Kombat',&nbsp;a martial arts-inspired adaptation of the popular video game, has grossed $34 million in two weeks. Those receipts are notable because the Warner Bros. release is playing simultaneously on HBO Max. The studio’s entire 2021 slate, including “In the Heights” and “The Suicide Squad,” is following a similar rollout pattern.

Internationally, where HBO Max has yet to launch, “Mortal Kombat” hasn’t been well embraced by audiences. It added another $3 million this weekend for a total haul of $32.8 million. Worldwide, “Mortal Kombat” has passed $66 million in ticket sales.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/jennifer-lopez-and-her-mom-performs-at-the-global-citizen-concert-382547" hreflang="en">Jennifer Lopez and her mom performs at the Global Citizen concert</a> 
 
In third place, “Godzilla vs. Kong,” a Warner Bros. and Legendary film, collected $2.7 million from 2,753 screens. That brings its domestic total to $90 million. The monster mashup has become a hit overseas, where it has grossed $325 million, pushing its global-bounty to $415 million.

The Horror movie “Separation” opened in fourth, pulling in $1.8 million from 1,751 venues. The Open Road and Briarcliff release got terrible reviews, with Variety’s critic Nick Schager calling the supernatural thriller about a creepy doll that haunts a widower and his daughter a “dull and misogynistic affair.” On Rotten Tomatoes, it averaged a dismal 11%.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-john-oliver-on-dealing-with-covid-19-misinformation-please-just-try-as-hard-as-you-can-382490" hreflang="en">John Oliver on dealing with COVID-19 misinformation: Please just try as hard as you can</a>

Universal’s action thriller “Nobody” rounded out the top five, amassing $1.2 million in its sixth weekend of release. In total, the Bob Odenkirk-led film has made $23 million. The movie is currently available to rent on demand for $20 due to an agreement between Universal and movie theatre chains like AMC and Cinemark, which allows the studio to debut its films on digital rental services early.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/in-pics-billie-eilish-is-all-transformed-in-the-new-british-vogue-cover-382533" hreflang="en">In pics: Billie Eilish is all transformed in the new British Vogue cover</a>

Among specialty releases, “Four Good Days” debuted in 298 venues and earned $303,000 over the weekend, averaging $1,017 per location. The drama, starring Glenn Close as a mother who attempts to help her heroin-addicted daughter (Mila Kunis) pursue sobriety, premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to mixed reviews.

The Focus Features comedic drama “Limbo” also opened this weekend, grossing $90,000 from 208 theatres for a weak $434 per-screen average. The well-reviewed movie takes place on a fictional remote Scottish island and centres on a group of new arrivals as their await the results of their asylum claims.

After narrowly losing first place in its opening weekend, “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” has surged ahead of “Mortal Kombat” on U.S. box office charts. The anime action-adventure “Demon Slayer” is expected to end the weekend with $6.

After narrowly losing first place in its opening weekend, “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” has surged ahead of “Mortal Kombat” on U.S. box office charts. The anime action-adventure “Demon Slayer” is expected to end the weekend with $6.4 million in ticket sales, while “Mortal Kombat” trails closely behind with $6.2 million between Friday and Sunday. Both films debuted last weekend and dipped roughly 70% from their initial outings. In normal times, those figures would have been somewhat disappointing for nationwide releases but during a pandemic, it’s not a terrible result. Still, it leaves lingering questions about when moviegoing will return in earnest -- and if upcoming potential blockbusters like “A Quiet Place Part II,” Marvel’s “Black Widow” and “Fast and Furious” sequel “F9” will premiere as expected this summer. “Demon Slayer,” which is playing in 1,915 North American venues, has earned an impressive $34.1 million in the U.S. and Canada to date. The film, from Funimation and Aniplex, has surpassed “Dragon Ball: Super Broly” ($30 million) to become the third-highest grossing anime title in North America. Overseas, the latest 'Demon Slayer' has already set several box office records. In Japan, it has become the highest-grossing movie ever with ticket sales surpassing $368 million. It’s also the highest-grossing anime film ever with $423 million globally. 'Mortal Kombat', a martial arts-inspired adaptation of the popular video game, has grossed $34 million in two weeks. Those receipts are notable because the Warner Bros. release is playing simultaneously on HBO Max. The studio’s entire 2021 slate, including “In the Heights” and “The Suicide Squad,” is following a similar rollout pattern. Internationally, where HBO Max has yet to launch, “Mortal Kombat” hasn’t been well embraced by audiences. It added another $3 million this weekend for a total haul of $32.8 million. Worldwide, “Mortal Kombat” has passed $66 million in ticket sales. Jennifer Lopez and her mom performs at the Global Citizen concert In third place, “Godzilla vs. Kong,” a Warner Bros. and Legendary film, collected $2.7 million from 2,753 screens. That brings its domestic total to $90 million. The monster mashup has become a hit overseas, where it has grossed $325 million, pushing its global-bounty to $415 million. The Horror movie “Separation” opened in fourth, pulling in $1.8 million from 1,751 venues. The Open Road and Briarcliff release got terrible reviews, with Variety’s critic Nick Schager calling the supernatural thriller about a creepy doll that haunts a widower and his daughter a “dull and misogynistic affair.” On Rotten Tomatoes, it averaged a dismal 11%. John Oliver on dealing with COVID-19 misinformation: Please just try as hard as you can Universal’s action thriller “Nobody” rounded out the top five, amassing $1.2 million in its sixth weekend of release. In total, the Bob Odenkirk-led film has made $23 million. The movie is currently available to rent on demand for $20 due to an agreement between Universal and movie theatre chains like AMC and Cinemark, which allows the studio to debut its films on digital rental services early. In pics: Billie Eilish is all transformed in the new British Vogue cover Among specialty releases, “Four Good Days” debuted in 298 venues and earned $303,000 over the weekend, averaging $1,017 per location. The drama, starring Glenn Close as a mother who attempts to help her heroin-addicted daughter (Mila Kunis) pursue sobriety, premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to mixed reviews. The Focus Features comedic drama “Limbo” also opened this weekend, grossing $90,000 from 208 theatres for a weak $434 per-screen average. The well-reviewed movie takes place on a fictional remote Scottish island and centres on a group of new arrivals as their await the results of their asylum claims.

'Demon Slayer' overtakes 'Mortal Kombat' at US box office

The Japanese animated film "Demon Slayer" this weekend had the best opening ever recorded in North America for a foreign language film, a new milestone after already setting a box office record in Japan.

Produced by Aniplex, a subsidiary of Japanese giant Sony, "Demon Slayer" took in $19.5 million in the United States and Canada, according to Exhibitor Relations.

The anime unseated "Hero," a Chinese film by Zhang Yimou, which earned $17.8 million during its first weekend in American theaters, in August 2004.

"Demon Slayer" broke the box office record in Japan at the end of December. The tally on industry website Box Office Mojo currently shows $365 million in tickets sold in the Japanese market alone.

The film follows Tanjiro, a teenager living in Japan during the Taisho era (1912-1926), who becomes a demon hunter after his family is killed by the creatures thirsty for human blood.

The manga, or graphic novel series, was already adapted into a television show, the first episodes of which came out in 2019.

Although it's a cartoon, the movie is rated "R," meaning that children under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult to see the film.

Despite the historic debut, "Demon Slayer" was beaten over the weekend by another release: "Mortal Kombat," based on the video game of the same name, which raked in $22.5 million at the North American box office.

The simultaneous release of "Mortal Kombat" on the online video platform HBO Max did not prevent it from reaching the second-best launch since the start of the pandemic, behind "Godzilla vs. Kong," which earned $31 million in its first weekend in theaters, in April.

The box office performance of the 10 most-watched films from the weekend is the best since the start of March 2020, a sign that cinema-going is picking up significant steam in the United States, thanks to movie theater reopenings and the success of the vaccination campaign against the coronavirus.

The Japanese animated film "Demon Slayer" this weekend had the best opening ever recorded in North America for a foreign language film, a new milestone after already setting a box office record in Japan.

The Japanese animated film "Demon Slayer" this weekend had the best opening ever recorded in North America for a foreign language film, a new milestone after already setting a box office record in Japan. Produced by Aniplex, a subsidiary of Japanese giant Sony, "Demon Slayer" took in $19.5 million in the United States and Canada, according to Exhibitor Relations. The anime unseated "Hero," a Chinese film by Zhang Yimou, which earned $17.8 million during its first weekend in American theaters, in August 2004. "Demon Slayer" broke the box office record in Japan at the end of December. The tally on industry website Box Office Mojo currently shows $365 million in tickets sold in the Japanese market alone. The film follows Tanjiro, a teenager living in Japan during the Taisho era (1912-1926), who becomes a demon hunter after his family is killed by the creatures thirsty for human blood. The manga, or graphic novel series, was already adapted into a television show, the first episodes of which came out in 2019. Although it's a cartoon, the movie is rated "R," meaning that children under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult to see the film. Despite the historic debut, "Demon Slayer" was beaten over the weekend by another release: "Mortal Kombat," based on the video game of the same name, which raked in $22.5 million at the North American box office. The simultaneous release of "Mortal Kombat" on the online video platform HBO Max did not prevent it from reaching the second-best launch since the start of the pandemic, behind "Godzilla vs. Kong," which earned $31 million in its first weekend in theaters, in April. The box office performance of the 10 most-watched films from the weekend is the best since the start of March 2020, a sign that cinema-going is picking up significant steam in the United States, thanks to movie theater reopenings and the success of the vaccination campaign against the coronavirus.

'Demon Slayer' sets US record for best foreign language film opening weekend

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'Demon Slayer' overtakes 'Mortal Kombat' at US box office

'Demon Slayer' sets US record for best foreign language film opening weekend