This week saw the release of one of the years most anticipated films. In the shape of the Todd Phillips directed and Joaquin Phoenix starring, “Joker” from Warner Bros. The origin story of the comic worlds most famous villain, bowed to an enormous $93.5M (a figure which could rise when actuals are released tomorrow) and thus lifted it above the 93.8M “Justice League” made during its bow in 2017. Not only did the Venice golden lion winning film have the highest opening in October history (after last years Venom), but it also goes down as the fourth-highest total for an R rated film.
Internationally, the film has had a tremendous start, taking over $140M internationally, building its overall worldwide gross to $240M.
It seems audiences have not gotten wrapped up in both the media discussions on the slightly polarising reviews of the film and have turned out in droves to see the latest take on the clown prince of Gotham.
In second this week, and in its own second week is Universals family animation “Abominable.” The snowy adventure conjured up a solid $12M over the weekend to sit at $37.8M after its ten-day life so far. Meanwhile overseas, the film opened in China to the sound of $11.2M, giving its international total a boost to around $24M for the weekend and $75M overall.
In a solid third this week is “Downton Abbey”. In its third week, it garnered around $8M domestic, boosting its tally to $74M, whilst its overall box office standing sits at $135M worldwide.
In fourth and impressive yet again, is Oscar hopeful “Hustlers.” Having been motoring along nicely, the film should break the $100M domestic barrier in the next two weeks after this week’s tally of $6.3M took its total to around $91M.
Again rounding out the top five is Warner Bros “IT: Chapter Two.” Although taking just the $5.35M at the domestic box office, the film did become only the third R rated film ever to move past the $200m mark.
Another impressive feat from this week was Roadside’s Renee Zellweger led “Judy,” as their expansion to over 1000 locations, brought about another $4.4M as it continues to expand.
Meanwhile, in a limited release there was both good and bad news. Spanish Oscar hopeful “Pain and Glory” starring Antonio Banderas, took over $150K from just four locations, whilst the much-maligned Natalie Portman led space movie “Lucy in the Sky” opened in 37 locations to a very disappointing $55K.
Whilst it will be interesting to see how ‘Joker’ pushes on in week two, it will also face competition from the likes of UAR’s animated “The Addams Family” and possibly more pressingly Ang Lee’s will Smith starring action thriller “Gemini Man.”
Reeves is supposed to direct, David E. Kelley is writing, and just like that, Apple got cold feet — the usual “creative differences” excuse is being cited in the report, and maybe that was indeed the case.