The Chosen beat new epicurean horror-comedy The Menu, which is opening in 3,211 theaters, the widest release in the history of specialty label Searchlight.
A special-event screening of faith-based series The Chosen, chronicling the life of Jesus, is pulling off a major upset. Fathom Events, which is showing the first two episodes of season three in more than 2,000 theaters, is projecting a $10 million-plus weekend for a second-place finish after grossing $3.4 million on Friday.
The Chosen is from Angel Studios, which streams the independent show on such platforms as Prime Video and Peacock, as well as on its special app.
The Menu, starring Ralph Fiennes, Anna Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult, should serve up a respectable $9 million debut after grossing roughly $3.6 million on Friday.
