In a pleasant surprise for family audiences, "Kung Fu Panda 4" has kicked off its release with a bang, scoring impressive numbers at the box office. The animated action comedy film, produced by Universal, made a remarkable $19.4 million on its opening day, including preview screenings, across 4,035 theaters. This marks the strongest opening day for the popular series since the original film debuted in 2008 with $20 million and went on to gross $60.2 million over the three-day weekend.

Despite not reaching the heights of its predecessor, projections indicate that "Kung Fu Panda 4" is set to open with $55 million, surpassing the figures earned by both the 2010 sequel ($47.6 million) and the 2016 threequel ($41.2 million). This success is amplified by the film's relatively modest production budget of $85 million, which is just over half of what the previous entries cost to produce.

Critics have given the DreamWorks Animation feature positive reviews, and audience reception has been equally enthusiastic, receiving an "A-" grade from Cinema Score. This indicates that the fourth installment has resonated well with viewers, boding well for its continued success in the coming weeks before facing competition from Sony's "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire."

"Kung Fu Panda 4" brings back the voices of franchise veteran Jack Black as Po, the beloved Dragon Warrior, along with other returning stars including Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, and Ian McShane. The ensemble cast is further bolstered by the additions of Awkwafina, Viola Davis, and Ke Huy Quan.

Meanwhile, standing strong in second place is "Dune: Part Two," which earned $12.3 million on Friday alone. Although the sci-fi epic experienced a 62% drop from its opening day last week, it is expected to have a weekend performance that falls less than 50% overall. The film, a sequel to the 2021 original, has already surpassed the final domestic gross of its predecessor, having earned over $108 million. With its stellar reviews and overwhelming support for premium large-format showings like IMAX, "Dune: Part Two" is projected to reach a $150 million domestic total by the end of the weekend.

In third place, "Imaginary," a horror film from Lionsgate, earned $3.6 million on its opening day from 3,118 locations. Despite mixed reviews and a "C+" grading from Cinema Score, the Blumhouse thriller is projected to have a solid three-day total of around $10 million in its debut. With a modest production budget of $12 million, this performance is considered a positive start for the film.

Angel Studios returns to theaters with "Cabrini," directed by Alejandro Gómez Monteverde. After the success of their collaboration on "Sound of Freedom," industry experts are projecting an opening of $7 million to $8 million for the film, which tells the true story of Francesca Cabrini, a Catholic missionary in 19th-century New York. The glowing "A" grade on Cinema Score suggests potential strong word-of-mouth for "Cabrini."

Finally, rounding out the top five is Paramount's "Bob Marley: One Love," which is projected to bring in $4.2 million over the three-day frame. The musician biopic continues to perform steadily since its Valentine's Day release and is expected to surpass a total domestic haul of $90 million. In comparison to other films in its genre, "One Love" is on track to surpass the domestic revenue of "Rocketman," which reached $96 million in 2019.

With "Kung Fu Panda 4" leading the way, the box office is experiencing a boost in attendance and revenue. As we await the arrival of other highly anticipated films in the coming weeks, the cinema industry is hopeful for a strong and successful month ahead.