ARTNEWSPRESS: The end of the STAR WARS sequel trilogy was once again in first place at the box office this weekend as STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER pulled in an estimated $33.7 million!
With a domestic total of $450.7 million, director J.J. Abrams’ conclusion of the Skywalker saga from still trails significantly behind the $620 million domestic finish of THE LAST JEDI in 2017 and the $936 million total for 2015’s THE FORCE AWAKENS, which remains the highest-grossing release in domestic history.
On its third weekend, the PG-13 grand finale of the George Lucas space opera (until whatever happens next, obviously) stuffed with galactic action and lightsaber duels has accumulated a worldwide total of $918.7 million, on a reported cost of $275 million.
The PG-13 adventure comedy JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL held on to second place with $26.5 million for its fourth weekend in theaters, giving the $125 million Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson/Kevin Hart//Karen Gillan/Jack Black sequel a domestic total of $236.2 million and $610.2 million worldwide (about two-thirds of the way to JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE’s $964 million global finish two years ago).
The coming-of-age period drama LITTLE WOMEN stayed in third place with $13.5 million, a mere 19% dip in business from last weekend. Filmmaker Greta Gerwig’s PG-13 adaptation of the literary classic has a 12-day domestic total of $60 million and $80.4 million worldwide, on a reported $40 million cost.
Opening in fourth place was the new horror spinoff THE GRUDGE with $11.3 million.
Produced by Sam Raimi and directed by Nicolas Pesce (PIERCING), the R-rated sequel/reboot/side-story of the haunted house series cost a reported $10 million.
Sony’s latest entry is the fourth American release supplementing the Japanese JU-ON: THE GRUDGE franchise, which itself has nine chapters (including SADAKO VS. KAYAKO, pitting the ghosts of THE GRUDGE and THE RING against each other). The original US version of THE GRUDGE started with $39.1 million in 2004 and sequel THE GRUDGE 2 opened with $20.8 million in 2006 (THE GRUDGE 3 was a direct-to-video release in the US).
Starring John Cho, Andrea Riseborough, Demian Bichir, Betty Gilpin and horror veteran Lin Shaye, the supernatural thriller also scared up $5.8 million from international audiences for a $17.1 million worldwide total.
Critics didn’t really want to hang around with the vengeful spirit, giving the movie an 18% average on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 31 on Metacritic. Creep on over to the JoBlo review HERE.
Now chilling on the top half of the chart for seven weekends, Disney’s fairy tale sequel FROZEN II was in fifth place with $11.2 million. The PG-rated animated fantasy musical has a domestic total of $449.8 million and a worldwide total of $1.32 billion, overtaking the $1.27 billion global finish of the original FROZEN in 2013.
In sixth place was the PG-rated animated action-comedy SPIES IN DISGUISE with $10 million, dropping 24% from its first weekend. The $100 million Fox family movie with the voices of Will Smith, Tom Holland and Rashida Jones has a 12-day domestic total of $46.7 million and $88.8 million worldwide since its Christmas Day release.
On its sixth weekend in theaters, the A-list crime comedy KNIVES OUT was in seventh place with $9 million. Filmmaker Rian Johnson’s PG-13 murder mystery has a domestic total of $130.2 million and $238.4 million worldwide on a reported $40 million cost.
In eighth place was the R-rated Adam Sandler drama UNCUT GEMS with $7.8 million on its second weekend in wide release. Directing brothers Josh and Benny Safdie’s seedy crime thriller has a domestic total of $37.8 million.
Also in its second wide release weekend, the R-rated fact-based drama BOMBSHELL was in ninth place with $4 million. The $32 million Fox News scandal starring Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie has a domestic total of $24.5 million.
Whatever interest (or morbid curiosity) that existed for a live-action version of Broadway show CATS seems to have dissipated as director Tom Hooper’s PG-rated musical clings to the bottom of the list with $2.6 million. On its third weekend, Universal’s furry mishap has a domestic total of $24.6 million and $57 million worldwide on a reported cost of $95 million.
Outside the chart, director Clint Eastwood’s R-rated Olympics bombing drama RICHARD JEWELL made its exit after three weekends in the Top 10.
In limited release, director Sam Mendes’ single-take WWI drama 1917 improved on last week’s debut per-screen average with $53k for a new domestic total of $2.2 million before its wide expansion next weekend.
Next weekend offers up an array of new choices that include the wide releases of R-rated war movie 1917 and the Jamie Foxx/Michael B. Jordan legal drama JUST MERCY, along with the new Tiffany Haddish/Rose Byrne corporate comedy LIKE A BOSS, the Kristen Stewart subaquatic thriller UNDERWATER and the crime drama THE INFORMER.
What was your favorite movie released in 2019? VOTE HERE!
| # | MOVIE TITLE | WKND $ | TOTAL $ |
| 1. | Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | $33.7 M | $450.7 M |
| 2. | Jumanji: The Next Level | $26.5 M | $236.2 M |
| 3. | Little Women | $13.5 M | $60 M |
| 4. | The Grudge | $11.3 M | |
| 5. | Frozen 2 | $11.2 M | $449.8 M |
| 6. | Spies in Disguise | $10 M | $46.7 M |
| 7. | Knives Out | $9 M | $130.2 M |
| 8. | Uncut Gems | $7.8 M | $37.8 M |
| 9. | Bombshell | $4 M | $24.5 M |
| 10. | Cats | $2.6 M | $24.6 M |
