| Date | |
|---|---|
| Author | Tom Linay |
The Weekend Round-up
The LEGO Batman Movie flexed its muscles once again and comfortably took the top spot for the third successive weekend. The Warner Bros animation fell 35% to £2.9m, which brings its total to £23.1m.
Fifty Shades Darker stayed in second for the third successive weekend, falling 56% to £1.5m. That brings its total to £20.3m and it’s the sixth highest grossing 18-cert film of all time. It will likely climb to second in that list before it’s done.
Sing went up one spot to third, adding another £1.5m for a new cume of £26.6m. It’s involved in a three-way battle with The LEGO Batman Movie and La La Land to see what will be the biggest film of the year (until Beauty and the Beast comes out).
John Wick Chapter 2 has a decent hold, falling 42% (once previews are removed) to £1.1m. That brings its total to £4.4m, well clear of the £1.6m the first film finished with.
Hidden Figures had a great hold in fifth, falling 19% (once previews are removed) to £986k, which brings its total to £3.3m.
Outside of the top five, the two weekends two new entries disappointed, with Peter Berg’s Patriots Day opening in seventh with £843k (including £95k from previews), and A Cure for Wellness opening in 10th with £410k (including £3k from previews).
Lion is the film the just won’t drop off. It maintained its box office from last weekend, adding £694k in eighth, for a new cume of £9.3m. It is certain to crack the £10m mark, which looked a long way off when it opened with £1.3m over a month ago.
The Oscar Best Picture winner, Moonlight, also had a great weekend, increasing by 7% (once previews are removed) in 12th to £393k. That brings its total to £1.3m, and it should have a decent boost after its success last night.
Overall the box office was down 34% from last weekend and up 26% from the same weekend last year, when the top four films were Deadpool, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip, How to Be Single and Goosebumps.
Next Weekend
Logan is reportedly Hugh Jackman’s final outing as Wolverine and is said to be by far the best yet. In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces. It’s in cinemas on Wednesday.
Viceroy’s House is the latest film from Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham, Bride and Prejudice). In 1947, Lord Mountbatten assumes the post of last Viceroy, charged with handing India back to its people, living upstairs at the house which was the home of British rulers, whilst 500 Hindu, Muslim and Sikh servants lived downstairs.
Fist Fight is a comedy starring Ice Cube and Charlie Day. When one school teacher gets the other fired, he is challenged to an after-school fight. It came out in the US a couple of weeks ago and has so far grossed just over $23m.
Trespass Against Us is a crime drama starring Michael Fassbender as a man looks to find a way to escape the criminal ways of his outlaw family. Brendan Gleeson and Sean Harris also star.
The Buzz
Get Out was mentioned in this column a few weeks ago, but it’s worth highlighting once again. It’s a horror with a strong seam of social commentary, from US comedian Jordan Peele. British actor, Daniel Kaluuya plays Chris, a young African-American man visits his Caucasian girlfriend's mysterious family estate. It opened in the US on Friday with a sensational $30.5m, and currently has an incredible 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 136 reviews. It’s out in the UK on 17 March.
Across The Pond
Get Out, the Jordan Peele horror/comedy/social commentary, opened in the top spot with an incredible $30.4m. The LEGO Batman Movie fell to second, adding $19m for a new cume of $133. John Wick: Chapter Two moved up one spot to third, adding $9.3m for a new cume of $74.7m and The Great Wall added $9.1m for a new cume of $34.8m in fourth. Fifty Shades Darker completed the top five, adding $7.8m for a new cume of $103.7m.