As expected, Steven Spielberg's latest topped the box office, and overall results came in a little higher than anticipated. Ready Player One was able to tally $41.2 million over the weekend ($53.2 million since Thursday, and a solid $9,733 per-venue average over the weekend). Many analysts were projecting a four-day debut around or just under $45 million. Chalk it up to a strong marketing campaign and solid reviews (76% on Rotten Tomatoes) that helped convince more mainstream audiences to give it a try. Audiences liked what they saw too, giving the book adaptation an "A-" CinemaScore. Whether or not it has strong holding power over the coming weeks is questionable, as fellow Warner Bros. flick Rampage is tracking solidly for release in two weeks. The budget was a heavy $175 million, which means the movie is going to need strong holding power to really give it a shot at being profitable. Sci-fi movies usually don't have great legs, so that's one strike against it.However, the film did get off to a huge start overseas, with $128 million from 65 markets (including a Warner Bros. studio-best $62 million in China). A $180 million worldwide launch is very strong, and ranks second to Black Panther on the year so far. Warners was expecting a $45 million four-day launch.
Meanwhile, Lionsgate was able to effectively counter-program Spielberg with Tyler Perry's latest drama, Acrimony. The Taraji P. Henson thriller opened to a rock solid $17.1 million in second place (strong $8,524 per-venue average from half of Player's theater count). While not the strongest opening for Perry, it is a notable improvement for Henson after Proud Mary only managed an $11 million 4-day start a few months ago. Reviews weren't great (24% on Rotten Tomatoes), while the CinemaScore was a very solid "A-". On just a $20 million budget, Lionsgate should find themselves with a second-straight win here.
Sliding a spot to third place but continuing to climb up the all-time charts was Marvel's superstar Black Panther. The blockbuster was off only 34% in its seventh weekend to $11.3 million, for a massive $650.7 million gross in 49 days. Panther will pass Jurassic World ($652.2 million) Monday to take fourth place on the all-time chart, and will also pass Titanic ($659 million lifetime gross) for third place domestically next weekend. Overseas, it has reached $1.275 billion, passing last year's Beauty and the Beast remake for 11th place on the all-time list, and is about to pass Frozen for 10th place.
Lionsgate's second movie in the Top 5, I Can Only Imagine, continued to play strong with faith-based moviegoers over Resurrection weekend. The true story film was off a light 21% to $10.8 million, for a strong $55.6 million gross in just 17 days. Imagine will pass the final gross of fellow Lionsgate faith-based flick The Shack ($58 million) this week, and looks to continue holding strong in the coming weeks.
Falling from first to fifth place this week, Pacific Rim: Uprising was clearly hurt bad by the opening of Ready Player One. The action sequel fell an alarming 67% in its sophomore frame to $9.2 million, for a disappointing $45.7 million gross in 10 days. At this pace, the film won't get anywhere near the $100 million the first film earned. Thankfully, the overall picture is rosier overseas. Uprising has earned over $230 million worldwide in two weeks, including $90 million in China.
Following a disappointing start last week, Sherlock Gnomes recovered a little bit of ground, off just 34% to $7 million. The animated sequel has earned $22.8 million in 10 days, and should have solid business this coming week. Staying put in seventh place, Love, Simon had a good hold in its third frame. The teen dramedy was down 37% to $4.8 million, for a $32.1 million gross in 17 days, on its way to a finish in the $40-45 million range.
Female-led films tied for eighth place. Tomb Raider felt the brunt of another action flick in the marketplace, off 54% to $4.7 million. Alicia Vikander's remake is at a forgettable $50.5 million stateside in 17 days, and may not make it to $60 million (it is about to pass $250 million worldwide, however). A Wrinkle in Time was down 43% in its fourth week to $4.7 million, for a mild $83.3 million gross in 24 days, with not much overseas so far.
Rounding out the Top 10 in its second weekend was Paul, Apostle of Christ. The Sony faith-based entry held decently with Easter weekend and the competition in mind, off 32% to $3.5 million. However, an $11.5 million 10-day gross isn't anything to really smile about (though with just a $5 million budget, things certainly could be worse).
Paul is definitely faring better than another faith-based title, God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness, which opened in 12th place with a disappointing $2.6 million (weak $1,553 per-venue average). Pure Flix's third installment of their hit trilogy was clearly hurt badly by strong competition from Paul and the clear choice for faith-based moviegoers this Easter season, I Can Only Imagine. Reviews were still terrible (15% on Rotten Tomatoes), while the CinemaScore was an "A-". However, the budget was likely small, so any financial loss will likely be minimal. Again, this movie might would have succeeded if there was more space between it and the other two films out. The first two God's Not Dead movies opened with $9.4 million and $7.4 million, respectively.
That's about it. Next weekend will bring two new competitors benefiting from strong reviews. Horror flick A Quiet Place and comedy Blockers. Its' been a down last few weeks, the hope is that things will start to turn around here. Predictions post coming Wednesday.
