'Revenant' Box Office Sales: True Story Pioneer Film Tops Weekend Despite Blizzard

The movie "The Revenant," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, topped box office sales for the weekend, taking home $16 million despite a brutal winter storm that ravaged swaths of the eastern United States. It was the first time the film had come in at the No. 1 spot since being released Dec. 25.

"Studios often blame poor weekends on bad weather, but that was truly the case during Jonas. It was a big deal for a number of movies," Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Rentrak told USA Today. "But 'The Revenant' did something astonishing this weekend, taking the top spot with this intense wilderness epic. It's flourishing," he said.

A blizzard pummeled much of the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic states from Friday into early Sunday, dumping 2 feet of snow in Washington, Maryland, New Jersey and New York. Travel bans were issued in many states as local authorities urged residents to stay inside.

The film has grossed $119.2 million domestically, competing against box office giant “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” “Star Wars” has grossed $868.5 million domestically, according to Variety, breaking records previously held by “Titanic” and “Avatar.”

“The Revenant” tells the true-life story of Hugh Glass, a pioneer and fur trapper in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Glass was mauled by a bear and then left for dead by fellow hunters. The film follows Glass as he struggles to survive in the harsh wilderness while making the journey to exact revenge on those who abandoned him.

The film has garnered critical acclaim ahead of the Academy Awards, scheduled for Feb. 28, taking home more nominations than any other film. DiCaprio, who has been nominated several times but never won an Oscar, was nominated for best actor for “The Revenant.”