Send Help Tops Box Office with $20M Debut

Sam Raimi's horror-comedy "Send Help" claimed the top spot at the North American box office this weekend, earning $20 million in its debut from 3,200 theaters. The 20th Century Studios release, which follows an office worker and her demanding boss as they fight to survive after a plane crash strands them on a remote island, outperformed expectations and provided a much-needed boost to January's sluggish ticket sales.

Starring Rachel McAdams as the resourceful employee Linda Liddle and Dylan O'Brien as her infuriating superior Bradley, the film blends survival thriller elements with dark humor and grotesque violence. Produced on a $40 million budget, "Send Help" added $8.1 million from international markets for a global opening of $28.1 million. Analysts project it could reach $65 million domestically if it maintains strong word-of-mouth, positioning it for profitability. Critics praised the movie's tonal balance, awarding it a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences gave it an 88% score and a B CinemaScore grade.

Raimi, known for his early work on the "Evil Dead" series and more recent blockbusters like the "Spider-Man" trilogy and Marvel's "Doctor Strange in the...