It's the surprises that make doing this hobby that much more fun. With that in mind, distributor STX Films celebrated its' first #1 debut ever with drama remake The Upside (I didn't know this until this weekend, but this is actually an American remake of a popular French film called The Intouchables). The true-story dramedy outperformed all forecasts with a very good $19.6 million (solid $6,360 per-venue average). In comparison, analysts were forecasting a $9-11 million opening in third or fourth place. This is a big win for a minor studio. Though one has to ask, how did this break out? If you ask me, I think Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston's starpower went quite a ways here, as well as the promise of something more low-key for adults in comparison to all the big-budget films out lately. Upside had a $37 million budget, and it got the numbers it needed to give it a strong chance at profit. With a strong "A" CinemaScore from audiences, this could be an early-in-the-year leggy hit. STX was hoping for a debut in double-digits.Yes, this means Aquaman's reign at the top spot is over. But, no need to fret because the superhero blockbuster reached a major milestone this weekend. It is now the first DC Extended Universe flick to pass the $1 billion mark worldwide. Meanwhile, here in America, the film eased 44% in its fourth frame to $17.3 million. In 24 days, Aquaman has picked up a strong $287.9 million as it prepares to pass $300 million next weekend. Overseas, its' earned an impressive $730 million so far with Japan left to open.
In third place, A Dog's Way Home matched expectations with a decent opening. The book adaptation and family film pulled in $11.3 million (mild $3,657 per-venue average). That's off from the $18.2 million start of A Dog's Purpose from two years ago. With many options catering to kids and parents right now, Dog might could have benefited from opening a little later on the calendar. That being said, the film earned a solid "A-" CinemaScore and only carries an $18 million production budget. Purpose earned over 3.5 times it's opening weekend. If this one performs similarly, it would qualify as a minor success. Distributor Sony was expecting anywhere from $9-12 million.
Sony had an unprecedented three films in the Top 5 this weekend. Fresh off of its' Golden Globe win for Best Animated Feature, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse jumped up a spot to fourth place. It was also off a light 31% in its fifth weekend to $9 million. The animated superhero caper has earned a solid $147.8 million in one month of release, and looks to match that tally over the extended Martin Luther King, Jr. frame next weekend. It's also passed $300 million worldwide. Meanwhile, following a very good start last week, Escape Room was off 51% to $8.9 million. In 10 days, the low-budget horror-thriller has earned a solid $32.4 million.
With no wins from the Golden Globes last week, Mary Poppins Returns dropped an alarming 55% in its fourth frame to $7.2 million. With $150.7 million in 26 days, Returns won't reach $200 million stateside. Instead, it looks like it will finish closer to The Greatest Showman's $175 million final gross (with much more front-loading). Bumblebee isn't faring much better here, off 49% to $6.8 million. The Transformers spin-off is at $108.5 million in 24 days, and will hope to have a strong MLK Weekend to get it to the level of The Last Knight. Thankfully, it is saving face overseas with $370 million earned worldwide so far (including $100 million in China).
Expanding to nationwide release, On the Basis of Sex may not have had awards season momentum, but it did earn a decent amount of audience attention. The biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg earned $6.2 million (mild $3,238 per-venue average), for a $10.6 million pick-up since its limited debut 17 days ago. With an "A" CinemaScore, audiences seem to be liking it. However, with no awards season buzz behind it, it might get lost in the midst of other titles aimed at adults. Thankfully the budget was a light $20 million. Distributor Focus Features didn't put out a forecast for the weekend.Continuing to play well was The Mule, though it did get hit a little bit from Upside pulling in older adults. The Clint Eastwood drama was of 39% in its fifth weekend to $5.5 million, for a very good $90.6 million gross in one month of release. With MLK Jr. Weekend usually being kind to most films, Mule will easily get above $100 million over the next week or two.
There was essentially a tie for tenth place between two Golden Globe winners. Winning Best Actor for Christian Bale, Vice didn't quite hold as well as usual for awards contenders. The biographical dramedy was down 43% to $3.3 million, for an OK $35.9 million pick-up in 19 days. With a surprising Best Picture win at the Globes, Fox re-expanded Bohemian Rhapsody for sing-along screenings. The Freddie Mercury biopic was up 32% from last weekend to $3.2 million, for a strong $198.5 million pick-up in 11 weeks of release. It will pass $200 million by the end of this week. But the film has been a huge player overseas, with the worldwide tally at an amazing $750 million.
Meanwhile, the final new release, Replicas opened in 12th place with (as expected) terrible numbers. The Keanu Reeves flick earned just $2.5 million (just $1,073 per-theater), in one of the worst debuts ever for a movie opening in over 2,000 locations. With little to no marketing and almost no buzz, the sci-fi flick was never expected to be a big player.
And that's about it. Next weekend is Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, and it brings the year's first big release. M. Night Shyalaman unleashes his superhero epic Glass, which is tracking for a strong debut. Otherwise, most holdovers should see respectable holds thanks to kids off on Monday. Look for a predictions post Wednesday. :)
