NEW YORK (AP) - "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has maintained its position as the top movie in theaters for the sixth consecutive week, marking an impressive achievement as only the second film to dominate the box office for such an extended period this decade. The Sony superhero film, which debuted at the end of July, has shown remarkable box office strength, paralleling the success of "Avatar: The Way of Water," which was the last to enjoy a similar run in 2022. Over the past weekend, "Brand New Day" grossed $18 million, and Sony projects an estimated $23.3 million over the extended four-day holiday weekend.

The film has amassed a staggering $2.4 billion in global earnings since its release. Meanwhile, Universal Pictures' “The Odyssey” remains in second place, having garnered $13 million domestically over the weekend. In total, Christopher Nolan's film has achieved a global gross of $1.63 billion, with over $1 billion of that total coming from international markets. This milestone makes “The Odyssey” the first release since 2009’s “Avatar” to surpass the billion-dollar threshold in overseas sales.

Both "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and "The Odyssey" have significantly contributed to a strong summer box office for Hollywood, which has reported a season total of $4.6 billion as of August 31. This figure reflects a 26.1% increase from the previous year and is just shy of the all-time record set in 2013. With a forecast of $4.759 billion for the entirety of the summer, this season is poised to surpass the $4.758 billion tallied in 2013. However, it is worth noting that while the revenue figures are impressive, admissions have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, due in part to inflation and rising ticket prices.

Labor Day weekend traditionally presents a slow period for theaters, a trend that continued this year despite the strong performances of established blockbusters. New releases like Paramount's "By Any Means" and A24's "Onslaught" failed to make a significant impact on the box office. “Coyote vs. Acme,” a hybrid live-action-animated film featuring Looney Tunes, performed notably well, dipping just 29% in its second weekend and earning $11.3 million.

"Coyote vs. Acme" has proven to be a wise acquisition for Ketchup Entertainment, which purchased the film for approximately $50 million after Warner Bros. initially shelved it. The movie has thus far earned $33.8 million domestically, benefiting from positive reviews and word-of-mouth promotion.

In contrast, "By Any Means," a period civil rights action thriller starring Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, opened with $7.4 million and is projected to reach $9.2 million over the four-day holiday weekend. The film received a "B+" CinemaScore from audiences, indicating moderate reception. On the other hand, "Onslaught" floundered with a disappointing $1.9 million opening across 1,918 screens and is projected to earn $2.3 million over the extended weekend. Although the film had a modest budget of $15 million, its critical reviews and audience scores contributed to its lackluster performance.

Amid this landscape, "Buddy," a low-budget dark comedy, has turned into an unexpected hit. Directed by Casper Kelly and produced by the team behind "Weapons," "Buddy" chronicles a group of children trapped in a surreal 1990s children’s TV show. The film has seen consistent ticket sales, grossing $5.7 million in its second weekend alone, bringing its total to $14.3 million after just two weeks in theaters.

As the summer box office draws to a close, the top ten movies by domestic income from the weekend are as follows:

1. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," $18 million.

2. "The Odyssey," $13 million.

3. "Coyote vs. Acme," $11.3 million.

4. "By Any Means," $7.4 million.

5. "Insidious: Out of the Further," $6.5 million.

6. "Cars" (20th anniversary): $6.1 million.

7. "Buddy," $5.7 million.

8. "PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie," $3.3 million.

9. "The End of Oak Street," $2.9 million.

10. "The Dog Stars," $2.7 million.

As Hollywood continues to recover from the challenges faced during the pandemic, the performances of these films signal a notable rebound in the industry.