The marquee for the Los Feliz Theatre features the films "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie," Friday, July 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP)

The North American box office set a 2023 low this weekend, with top picture "The Nun II" expected to gross $8.4 million, according to industry observers on Sunday.

"The numbers are not good," said Franchise Entertainment Research's David A. Gross, citing that the months-long strike by Hollywood screenwriters and performers, which prevent stars from promoting new movies, "cannot end soon enough."

Hollywood writers and studios met for the fourth consecutive day of negotiations on Saturday, with the industry's aim to resolve the prolonged 145-day Writers Guild of America strike.

This weekend's top five pictures grossed around $31 million, which is less what "Barbie" made in its fourth weekend.

"The Nun II" dominates the box office

Despite mediocre box office results, Warner Bros.' "The Nun II," starring Taissa Farmiga in a story of Gothic horror and possession, has dominated the box office for the previous several weeks.

"Expend4bles," a new action picture, nearly tied it this weekend, with an estimated $8.3 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, according to Exhibitor Relations.

The fourth installment in the Lionsgate series sees a seasoned squad of Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, and Dolph Lundgren – joined by franchise newbies Megan Fox, 50 Cent, and Andy Garcia – travel to Libya to stop a mercenary from smuggling nuclear weapons.

At $6.3 million, 20th Century Fox's "A Haunting in Venice," Kenneth Branagh's newest Agatha Christie-inspired thriller, came in third place, down one spot from the previous weekend. Branagh reprises his role as Hercule Poirot, the famed Belgian detective.

Sony's "The Equalizer 3," which earned $4.7 million, took fourth place. Denzel Washington stars as a veteran US Marine and drug-enforcement officer who takes on evil personalities.

The Warner Bros. hit "Barbie," which was in its tenth weekend, came in fifth with $3.2 million. It has now grossed $630.5 million domestically and $797 million overseas.

The film, directed by Greta Gerwig, required so much paint that it wiped out an entire company's supply.

"My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3" grossed $3 million while "Blue Beetle," and "Oppenheimer" grossed less than $2 million each.