'John Wick: Chapter 4' slashed up the weekend box office with a huge $73.5 million domestic opening from 3,855 theaters after earning glowing reviews and an A CinemaScore from audiences.

At the international box office, it debuted at No. 1 in each of the 71 markets where it opened and grossed $137.5 million worldwide, according to Variety.

Its domestic opening beat 2014's 'John Wick' ($14 million), 2017's 'John Wick 2' ($30 million) and 2019's 'John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum' ($56 million).

Per The Hollywood Reporter, the fourth installment also marks Lionsgate's biggest domestic opening of the pandemic era, as well as one of the best so far of 2023.

According to Lionsgate, only nine franchises in the past 40 years have managed to set opening weekend records with their fourth outing.

Directed by Chad Stahelski, the 2-hour and 49-minute film is jam-packed with the usual mayhem, violence, balletic physicality and morbid humor that have come to define the action franchise. The cast also features Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgard, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Rina Sawayama, Ian McShane and the late Lance Reddick, who died earlier this month. The film is produced by Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee and Stahelski.

Lionsgate has been coy about a fifth 'John Wick' adventure, but nothing has been confirmed. However, Reeves and some of the cast members are returning for 'Ballerina,' a spinoff story starring Ana de Armas.

For other movies, 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' fell a steep 68 percent to $9.7 million in its second weekend. The film's 10-day domestic gross through Sunday is $46.3 million. Overseas, it pulled in $12.1 million from 77 markets for a tepid tally of $56.1 million and $102.4 million globally.'

Paramount and Spyglass' 'Scream VI' placed No. 3 with a hearty $8.4 million for a domestic tally of $90.4 and $139.3 million worldwide.

MGM's 'Creed III' followed at No. 4 with a strong $8.36 million for a domestic total of $140.9 million through Sunday. Overseas, it has earned north of $100 million for MGM and partner Warner Bros. International. The film, directed by and returning Michael B. Jordan, co-stars Jonathan Majors, who was arrested Saturday after being accused of assaulting a woman during a domestic dispute, the New York Police Department said in a statement (per THR).

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