It must feel pretty awesome to be Sony right now. Because Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle took the top spot back after sliding back to second place last week. In seven weeks of release(!), Jumanji has been on top four non-consecutive weekends. And the action thriller continues to pull in the crowds, off only 32% to $11 million. The video game adaptation has earned a huge $352.7 million in 49 days of release. Overseas, it continues to be huge with the international gross passing $500 million. Sony is already in talks for a sequel to release in possibly two years. Ultimately, Jumanji ranks as Sony's third-biggest release domestically ever, behind the first two Spider-Man movies from Sam Raimi ($402 million and $375 million), and it looks to challenge the second movie for second place. I just remain shocked at how well this has played.Meanwhile, last week's topper, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, fell further behind. The final installment in the YA trilogy was down 58% in its' sophomore frame to $10.2 million. With $39.8 million in 10 days, its' running well behind its' predecessors. However, Death Cure is still playing very well overseas, with the worldwide gross approaching $200 million in just three weeks.
The lone new nationwide release, Winchester, opened exactly in line with analysts (and my) expectations. The period horror flick pulled in $9.3 million (mild $3,730 per-venue average) in third place. That's not a bad start by all means, especially considering it was acquired for less than $5 million. However, reviews were disastrous (9% on Rotten Tomatoes). The CinemaScore was a decent (for the genre) B-. I don't expect this to play very long.
Remaining rock-steady in fourth place was The Greatest Showman. The audience-pleasing musical was down just 18% in its' seventh weekend to $7.8 million, for a fantastic $137.5 million gross in 49 days. It's also about to pass $300 million worldwide. Meanwhile, Hostiles was off 45% in its second weekend to $5.5 million. The Scott Cooper western has earned a decent $21.3 million in 10 days, and should find its way to around $35 million before its' done.
Steven Spielberg's The Post followed with a 43% decline to $5.2 million, for a very good $67.2 million gross since its' limited debut seven weeks ago. Remaining neck-and-neck throughout their runs, 12 Strong and Den of Thieves managed to keep their drops below 50% for a third-straight frame, both dropping 45% to $4.7 million apiece. The war thriller is at $37.3 million in 17 days while the crime thriller is at $36.3 million through the same amount of time. Both might approach $50 million.
Oscar contender The Shape of Water followed with the strongest hold of the bunch, off a light 27% to $4.3 million. Guillermo del Toro's adult fantasy has earned $44.6 million since its limited debut 10 weeks ago. Meanwhile, the kids' sequel Paddington 2 rounded out the list with a 45% dip to $3.1 million. The critically-acclaimed flick (which remains at a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes) has earned a meh $36.3 million in 24 days (but has fared far better overseas).
That's about it. Next weekend, things will finally get back up to speed as Clint Eastwood, Christian Grey and Peter Rabbit compete against each other in the pre-Valentine's Day Weekend stretch. Who will take home the gold? (especially with the Winter Olympics about to start). We will soon find out.
