Action fans powered the sequel Maze Runner: The Death Cure into the number one spot with a debut of an estimated $23.5M. That was 23% below the opening weekend of the last film in the series from 2015 and a drop for the threequel was always expected. Reviews were mixed for the PG-13 entry which averaged $6,205 from 3,787 locations.
Studio data from Fox showed that the audience was 51% female, 57% under 25, and 52% white. The CinemaScore grade was a good B+. Overseas, the new Maze Runner did $62.6M this weekend led by China’s $21.7M opening weekend. The overseas cume is now $82M and worldwide stands at $105.5M. The first two films grossed a combined $657M globally.
It’s been three weeks at number one and three weeks at number two for the runaway smash Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle which fell back into the runner-up spot this weekend while once again displaying sensational legs. The Sony hit slipped only 16% grossing an estimated $16.4M in its sixth weekend. That’s the best gross for any film in its sixth weekend since Frozen from four years ago. Jumanji has now collected a stunning $338.1M in North America adding to its $484M from overseas for an eye-popping $822.1M global tally. With good holds everywhere and Japan still to open, this Dwayne Johnson-Kevin Hart juggernaut looks likely to finish in the neighborhood of $950M worldwide. Even the $1 billion mark can’t be ruled out at this point.
Expanding nationwide after a month of limited play was the Western Hostiles with Christian Bale which did an estimated $10.2M from 2,816 locations for a mild $3,622 average. The Entertainment Studios release earned generally positive reviews. The leggy musical hit The Greatest Showman followed with an estimated $9.5M slipping only 11% in its sixth frame while still sitting in the top five throughout its run. Fox has banked $126.5M domestic with worldwide now at $259.5M.
Next was the Best Picture Oscar contender The Post which dropped 25% to an estimated $8.9M on the weekend after nominations were announced. Cume for Fox is $58.5M. Warner Bros. saw 12 Strong fall 45% to an estimated $8.6M putting the sum at $29.8M.
The action title Den of Thieves was close behind with an estimated $8.4M, down 45%, giving STX $28.5M overall. Academy Award frontrunner The Shape of Water took its 13 nominations and more than doubled its distribution this weekend. Fox Searchlight grossed an estimated $5.7M for a $3,074 average raising the total to $37.7M. With all the Oscar attention, more moviegoers are finding the Guillermo del Toro film which should be able to keep its momentum going over the weeks ahead.
Kidpic Paddington 2 took in an estimated $5.6M, down 31%, and has taken in $32M to date for Warner Bros. Star Wars: The Last Jedi dropped 36% to an estimated $4.2M putting the domestic haul at $610.7M. The international total broke $700M this weekend with the global gross now $1.31 billion.
The top ten films grossed an estimated $100.9M which was down 10% from last year when Split stayed at number one with $25.7M; and down 15% from 2016 when Kung Fu Panda 3 opened in the top spot with $41.3M.
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