‘Candyman’ slashes way toward No. 1 box office spot

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Candyman” has hooked the top spot at the North American box office. The Universal Pictures film starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II impressively pulled in more than $22.3 million through a quiet weekend despite concerns over the delta variant. The R-rated horror movie, co-written by Jordan Peele and directed by Nia DaCosta, delves into an urban legend that believes if someone repeats “Candyman” five times in front of a mirror, that would summon the hook-handed killer. “Candyman,” a sequel to the 1992 original, claimed No. 1 over the second place “Free Guy,” which earned $13.5 million and claimed the No. 2 spot.