Lionsgate’s ‘Michael’ is still on top, with industry estimates putting the Michael Jackson biopic at $27 million in its fourth weekend, down 29%. After an estimated $7 million Friday from 3560 theaters, the film should reach $283.6 million domestic by Sunday.

That would move ‘Michael’ past Lionsgate’s pre-Covid hit ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2,’ which finished with $281.7 million domestic. Among biopics, ‘Michael’ is pacing about 7% ahead of ‘Oppenheimer’ at the same point in release; ‘Oppenheimer’ ultimately finished with $330 million domestic.

In second place, 20th Century Studios/Disney’s ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ is looking at a $20 million third weekend, down 52%, after a projected $5.4 million Friday from 3,830 theaters. Its domestic total should reach about $177.8 million by Sunday.

Focus Features and Blumhouse’s ‘Obsession’ is breaking out in third. Curry Barker’s horror film grossed an estimated $6.6 million Friday and is now headed for a $14 million opening from 2615 locations, well above the expected $8 million to $9 million. It also earned the weekend’s best wide-release CinemaScore with an A-.

Focus and Blumhouse helped build buzz by screening ‘Obsession’ at Overlook, Panic Fest, Fantastic Fest, TIFF, and SXSW. The campaign also leaned into in-world marketing, including shirts, cryptic Post-it notes and a real version of the film’s “One Wish Willow” device, which sold out within hours. Its commercial has drawn more than 4.4 million YouTube views.

Earlier Friday, ‘Obsession’ had already posted $2.6 million in previews, ahead of Smile’s $2 million preview figure, though Smile went on to open with $22.6 million. ‘Obsession’ also beat the preview totals for A24’s ‘Heretic’ and ‘Talk to Me,’ which each made $1.2 million before opening to $10.8 million and $10.4 million, respectively.

READ: ‘Obsession’ Review: Curry Barker Masterfully Turns Male Fantasy into a Tragic Modern Possession Story

Fourth place goes to New Line’s ‘Mortal Kombat II,’ which is projected to make $12.7 million to $13 million in its second weekend, down 66%, after a $3.5 million Friday. Its 10-day domestic total should hit $61.8 million. The sequel’s $38.5 million opening was a franchise record.

Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘The Sheep Detectives’ rounds out the top five with a projected $9.8 million second weekend, down 35%, after a $2.3 million Friday. Its 10-day total should reach about $30.1 million.

Outside the top five, Black Bear’s Guy Ritchie film ‘In the Grey’ is heading for about $3 million from 2018 theaters after a $1.2 million Friday and a B CinemaScore. Paramount’s 40th anniversary re-release of ‘Top Gun’ is looking at $2.9 million to $3.2 million for the weekend from 2,295 theaters, bringing its total to around $4.7 million. Amazon MGM’s Is God Is, which earned a B+ CinemaScore, is estimated at $2.1 million for the weekend from 1510 sites.

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