With no new films going into wide release this weekend, filmgoers mostly feasted on cinematic leftovers at the North America box office. Coco continued to sing a pretty tune in first place while Justice League continued its fast fade into obscurity. The news was a little different on the specialty scene as several award contenders made impressive limited release debuts and national expansions.
Word-of-mouth and lack of any competition in the family market helped Disney/Pixar’s Coco hold strong as it scored an estimated $26.1 million from 3,987 theaters. Off 49%, the latest animated hit from the Mouse House has earned $108.6 million so far.
Currently, Coco is running about 10% behind Disney’s 2016-holiday offering, Moana. That acclaimed cartoon had amassed $119.8 million after a week and a half of release. Should Coco keep up its current box office pace, it could wind down with a healthy $225 million.
Overseas, Coco has pulled in a terrific $171.3 million so far.
Fading at a speed that would make The Flash blush, Warners’ Justice League dipped a steep 60% -the largest decrease in the top ten- in its third weekend on 3,820 screens. The DC superhero ensemble scored an estimated $16.6 million this weekend or more than the best casinos online earn in an entire year, which brought the domestic total up to $197.3 million.
In comparison, Wonder Woman had banked $275 million in its first 17 days of release while Suicide Squad was at $262 million after the same amount of time. Justice League could see a small holiday business bump in a few weeks, but even that won’t be enough to get the pricey action flick past the $230 million mark. In order for the film to break even at the box office, Warner will have to pin its hopes on the overseas market. Thus far, the foreign market for League has been good for $370 million.
One film that hasn’t had an issue making its production costs back is Lionsgate’s Wonder, which landed in third place with $12.5 million from 3,449 theaters. Off 45% from the Thanksgiving holiday, Wonder has scored $88 million to date and should cross the $100 million mark by next weekend. The acclaimed family drama could finish with a terrific $125 million domestically.
Disney/Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok hung tough in fourth place as it commanded an estimated $9.6 million from 3,148 theaters. Down 43%, Ragnarok has banked a massive $291.4 million after five weeks of domestic release. It should cross the $300 million mark by next Saturday. The international gross for Ragnarok stands at $525 million after six weeks.
Paramount’s Daddy’s Home 2 rounded out the top five with an estimated $7.5 million from 3,403 theaters. Down 43%, the Whalberg/Ferrell flick has earned $82.8 million so far.
- Murder on the Orient Express (2017) (Fox) $6.7 million (-49%); $84.7 million
- Lady Bird (A24) $4.5 million; $17 million
Greta Gerwig’s unanimously acclaimed directorial debut – a perfect 100% approval on Rotten Tomatoes- worked its way into the top ten in its fifth weekend on 1,194 screens. The film should continue to be a steady performer throughout the next few months as it continues its march to The Oscars.
- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (FoxS) $4.5 million (+3%); $13.6 million
Another drama benefitting from great word-of-mouth, excellent reviews and future award consideration spent its second week in the top ten thanks to an expansion to 1,430 screens this weekend.
- The Star (Sony) $4 million (-42%); $27.2 million
- A Bad Moms’ Christmas (STX) $3.5 million (-29%); $64.8 million
Outside the top ten, two films got off to fantastic starts in limited release: A24’s The Disaster Artist and Fox Searchlight’s The Shape of Water. James Franco’s The Disaster Artist opened on 29 screens where it made a massive $1.2 million. The Shape of Water, the latest film from Guillermo Del Torro, opened on only two screens Friday but didn’t stop it from bringing in a powerhouse $166,800. Both films will continue to roll out nationwide throughout the month.
Next weekend will be the calm before the Star Wars storm as only one new film opens in wide release: the Broad Green Pictures’ comedy Just Getting Started starring Morgan Freeman, Rene Russo and Tommy Lee Jones. Watch for Coco to hold onto the top spot for a third and final week.
We’ll see you in two weeks with the opening numbers for The Last Jedi.
