Sony’s “Jumanji” sequel picked up where the first one left off two years ago as it opened to major success both domestically and internationally to top this weekend’s charts.
Raking in $60.1M over its first five days, $8M more than its predecessor, “Jumanji: The Next Level” will hope to push close to the astounding $404M domestic of the original. Overseas the film took a whopping $85.7M, which when added to last week’s total, leaves its international haul at just over $150M and its overall global tally at $212.6M.
Sliding down into the unfamiliar number two spot is Disney’s own juggernaut “Frozen 2”. Taking $19.5M domestically this week, the film’s domestic tally is now up to $366.5M. And with its international cume now at the nicely round $666M, Disney can add yet another $1B movie to their 2019 total. Unprecedented success no matter your view on their monopolization of the market.
In third this week, and still flying the flag for original cinema is Lionsgate’s “Knives Out”. Rian Johnson’s ‘Whodunnit’ brought in $9.25M, as its domestic total continues to slowly tick toward the $100M mark (currently $80M) though I fear next week’s major releases may hamper its chances of reaching that milestone. Internationally the film took a further $13.6M, leaving its running total at an impressive $162M.
In fourth, this week and falling well below expectations is Warner Bros and Clint Eastwood’s Oscar hopeful “Richard Jewell”. Despite receiving mostly positive reviews, Eastwood’s re-telling or wrongly vilified hero Richard Jewell (Paul Walter-Hauser) has gone down as the legendary film-maker’s worst-ever opening, managing a woeful $5M, and no doubt punching a hole in the films awards chances.
This week’s fifth-place film had very similar issues to “Richard Jewell”. Universal and Blumhouse’s “Black Christmas” re-make managed only $4.4M in its first weekend, making it Blumhouse’s second-worst wife release opener ever, after “Jem and the Holograms”. Internationally the film managed $3.1M, but a global tally sitting under $10M on opening weekend is not the type of figure either studios had in mind.
This weeks notable limited releases saw two more major Oscar hopefuls debut, in the shape of A24’s “Uncut Gems” and Lionsgate’s “Bombshell”. A24’s high paced drama, starring Adam Sandler and directed by the Safdie Brothers (“Good Time”) performed extremely well in just five theatres, taking a very healthy looking $525,498, a figure that bodes extremely well for the films drip-fed release into the wider markets. Lionsgate’s all star led Fox new drama also performed well taking $312,000 from only four venues. Lionsgate will hope the drawer of mega-stars Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie, coupled with the films awards attention will amount to box office receipts.
All will change next weekend as one of the years biggest films hits theatres, in the shape of Disney’s “Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker”. With 2017’s “The Last Jedi” dipping on 2015’s “The Force Awakens”, Disney will hope the marketing of this as the final chapter in the Skywalker saga will elevate its box office to new heights.
The film won’t be without some completion however as Universal’s much talked about musical adaptation “Cats” hits theatres a day after, an entirely different option for those not taken with Star Wars. And those not interested in a galaxy far far away also have Fox’s Will Smith and Tom Holland animated comedy “Spies in Disguise” to delve into as well.
1. Jumanji: The Next Level – $60.1M
2. Frozen II – $19.2M
3. Knives Out – $9.25M
4. Richard Jewell – $5M
5. Black Christmas – $4.4M
6. Ford v Ferrari – $4.1M
7. Queen & Slim – $3.6M
8. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood – $3.36M
9. Dark Waters – $2M
10. 21 Bridges – $1.2M
I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of looking forward to the “Michael” sequel. Whether Vantoine directs it or John Logan, it doesn’t matter—it’s an inevitable sh*tshow that will result from its making and release.