“Joker” continues to laugh from the top of the box office for its second straight frame while “The Addams Family” surprises with a $30.3m opening weekend. “Gemini Man” takes a distant third
In its second frame, Todd Phillips’s “Joker” took in an estimated $55 million falling an estimated 43% over last weekend. The polarizing film, which we did not review, is still drawing audiences in. We do Highly Recommend “Joker.”
In second place, comes the animated “The Addams Family” with $30.3 million from 4007 screens. The film from United Artists Releasing is a Metro Goldwyn-Mayer and Bron Creative release and is based on the immortal New Yorker comic strip and a two-season television series run on ABC from September 1964 – September 1966. “The Addams Family” suffers from a flat script but is Recommended for its homage to the classic comic strip and television series.
Ang Lee’s technology-forward “Gemini Man” from Paramount was also a new release this past weekend taking in approximately $20.5 million from 3642 screens. The film, which was shot in 4K, 3D and a High Frame Rate of 120fps missed with audiences and critics. Our Recommended review can be found on The Cinema Files.
Also the top 5 releases this weekend are the Recommended animated “Abominable” fell 48% from last weekend to take in $6.1 million. While we really enjoyed the film, it’s niche themes haven’t quite reached audiences.
Following the famed BBC/PBS television series run, “Downton Abbey” rounded out the top 5 box office films, taking in an estimated $4.9 million as it shed 529 screens. We’re working on a revisit to the popular series and you can find our Recommended review over the Phoenix Film Festival website.
The remaining five slots went to the Highly Recommended“Hustlers” with a $3.9m draw off of 2357 screens, the Recommended Judy Garland biopic “Judy,” earning $3.2m, the Not Recommended Stephen King adaptation, “It Chapter Two” scaring $3.2m, the new release, “Jexl” which was not screened for Phoenix critics with a $3.1m take and James Gray’s “Ad Astra” drifting in the Solar System with a $1.9m box office. “Ad Astra” earned a Highly Recommended rating.
Next weekend has a case of sequelitis as Sony Pictures’ “Zombieland: Double Tap” and Disney’s “Maleficcent: Mistress of Evil” wiggle their way into your multiplex while “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” Fox Searchlight’s “Jojo Rabbit” and A24’s “The Lighthouse” begin their Oscar runs. Can “Joker” hold its place at the top or is there room for a new contender?
Ben Cahlamer is a Phoenix film critic with reviews running weekly on http://www.phoenixfilmfestival.com and http://www.thecinemafiles.com. You can also hear him on the air every Thursday at 4:40 pm on 88.7 The Pulse.