‘Deadpool’ still has a pulse, again leading North American box office
THE superhero comedy Deadpool & Wolverine clawed its way back to the top of the North American box office over the weekend, taking in an estimated US$18.3 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported on Sunday (Aug 25).
The Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman movie by Disney and Marvel has now topped the box office for four of the five weekends since its release, logging impressive total ticket sales of US$577.2 million in North America and US$634 million internationally.
The previous weekend’s leader, sci-fi horror film Alien: Romulus from 20th Century Studios, slipped to second, earning US$16.2 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period.
The tale of a terrifying encounter between space colonists and a face-eating alien is directed by Uruguayan filmmaker Fede Alvarez. Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux and Spike Fearn star.
Sony’s It Ends With Us, a romantic drama based on a popular Colleen Hoover novel, had US$11.9 million in ticket sales. Blake Lively stars and co-produced the film, which has performed unexpectedly well for the genre, taking in a global total so far of US$242 million.
“It’s among the highlights of the summer,” said analyst David Gross, adding that “it’s another sign of the industry’s improving health”.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Friday, 2 pm
Lifestyle
Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.
New psychological thriller Blink Twice, from MGM Studios, placed fourth, at US$7.3 million.
The story of a cocktail waitress (Naomi Ackie) who visits the mysterious island of a tech billionaire (Channing Tatum) was directed by actress Zoe Kravitz (daughter of singer Lenny Kravitz and actor Lisa Bonnet) in her directorial debut.
Given the glutted field of crime thrillers, Gross said, how well such films perform is “almost always cast-driven”. In this case, the cast, along with Ackie and Tatum, includes Christian Slater, Kyle MacLachlan, Haley Joel Osment and Geena Davis.
And in fifth was Sony’s new biblical drama The Forge, at US$6.6 million, not a bad opening for a movie that cost US$5 million to make. A spinoff from 2015’s inspirational drama War Room, it tells the story of a floundering, directionless 19-year-old who finds motivation to get himself together.
Rounding out the top 10 were Twisters (US$6.2 million); Coraline (re-release, US$5 million); The Crow (US$4.6 million); Despicable Me 4 (US$4.4 million); and Inside Out 2 (US$2.1 million).
Share with us your feedback on BT's products and services
