Overall business was up 9% from this same weekend last year when Moana held the top spot with $28 million over the post-Thanksgiving frame.
As expected, Disney and Pixar remained on top with their latest hit, Coco. But the film held surprisingly well for a post-Thanksgiving frame, down 46% to $27.5 million. In 12 days, the Day of the Dead-themed pic has pulled in a very good $110.1 million. In comparison, Coco held much better than any of the recent Disney Thanksgiving releases in their second weekend (Moana was down 50%, Tangled 56%, Frozen 53%, The Muppets 62%, The Good Dinosaur 61% and Enchanted 52%). Coco should hold well again next week before having to fend off fellow Disney film Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Fox's animated Ferdinand. Overseas, the film expanded nicely, where it has pulled in $170 million so far, and a worldwide tally about to pass $300 million in just a couple of weeks (a lot of this is thanks to record business in Mexico).
Repeating in second place, Justice League failed to hold on nearly as well. The superhero team-up was down 60% to $16.7 million, for an OK $197.4 million pick-up in 17 days. In comparison, last year's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them had an identical percentage drop, but had a slightly higher number ($18 million). At this point, whether or not Justice League reaches $250 million stateside will depend on how it holds next weekend (because Star Wars will definitely take away a lot of its' audience in two weeks). As expected, the film is playing better overseas, with the worldwide gross at $570 million in a few weeks. A $700 million worldwide finish wouldn't necessarily be horrible, but it would be disappointing considering it's the DC Universe's version of The Avengers.
The surprise of the season so far has been Wonder, which was off 46% to $12.1 million in its third weekend. However, the book adaptation continues to perform strongly, with a strong $87.7 million gross in 17 days. I would not be surprised if this had strong holds into the Christmas holiday, if it can keep up with the family competition opening later in the month.
Holding very well in fourth place was the other major superhero in the list, Thor: Ragnarok. The latest Marvel flick had an excellent hold for the post-Thanksgiving frame, off just 41% to $9.9 million. In comparison, Doctor Strange was down 51% on this comparable weekend last year, while Thor: The Dark World was down 57%. The critically-adored threequel is at a very strong $291.6 million in one month of release, and should pass $300 million by the end of next weekend.
Daddy's Home 2 also had a very good hold in its' third weekend with a 43% dip to $7.6 million. Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg's sequel has earned $82.9 million in 17 days, and should have enough steam to make it past $100 million stateside. Murder on the Orient Express followed with a 49% drop to $6.8 million, for a solid $84.8 million pick-up in the same amount of time. If it can hold onto its' theaters through mid-December, the Agatha Christie remake might make its way to the same vicinity.
Two possible awards season contenders followed. Expanding to nearly 1,500 locations, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri was even with last week, pulling in $4.4 million. The Frances McDormand film has earned $13.5 million since its' limited release 24 days ago. Lady Bird expanded to nearly 1,200 locations, and was up 6% from Thanksgiving to $4.3 million. The Saorise Ronan awards player has earned $16.8 million since its' limited start one month ago.
Sony Animation's The Star followed with a solid hold, off 41% to $4.1 million. The animated Nativity story has earned $27.4 million in 17 days, and should see an even stronger hold next week with Christmas approaching. Rounding out the Top 10 is A Bad Moms Christmas, which had the best hold of all declining holdovers. The comedy sequel was down just 31% to $3.4 million, for a solid (if unspectacular) $64.7 million in one month of release. It should make it to around $75 million by the time it's finished.
That's about it. I apologize this is late, I've been busy trying to wrap up this semester for college. I will have a post for this coming weekend later.
