After two weeks trailing ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’, the Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael’ reclaimed the No. 1 spot at the North American box office with USD 26.1 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates.The movie is in rarefied territory, having brought in USD 703.9 million worldwide and counting. It still has a long way to go to surpass the current reigning champion of musical biopics: ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, The Queen movie grossed over USD 910.8 million worldwide.
‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ takes second spot
‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ took second place in its third weekend with $18 million, bringing its domestic total to USD175.9 million and worldwide earnings to USD 546.2 million.
‘Obsession’ takes lead over new releases
‘Obsession’topped the newcomers, exceeding expectations with an estimated USD 16.1 million from 2,615 theaters. YouTube breakout Curry Barker wrote and directed the thriller in which a hopeless romantic gets more than he bargained for when his crush returns his affections. The film received positive reviews from both critics (94% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences (A- CinemaScore). Perhaps more notable is that Barker made the film for USD 750,000. Focus Features acquired it out of the Toronto International Film Festival last fall for around USD 15 million.Lisa Bunnell, president of domestic distribution for Focus Features, attributed some of ‘Obsession’s success to audiences craving fresh, original voices at the movies. It’s also getting an infusion by word-of-mouth, with younger audiences making plans to go back with friends. Horror movies don’t often get CinemaScores in the A- range, but ‘Obsession’ is in good company with another recent hit: ‘Weapons’.‘I’m expecting a really strong holdover,’ Bunnell said.
‘Mortal Kombat II’ falls to fourth place
Fourth place at the box office this weekend went to ‘Mortal Kombat II’, which fell 65% in its second weekend to USD 13.4 million in domestic ticket sales. Globally, it has made USD 101.2 million from 80 markets.Amazon MGM Studios had three movies in the top 10, including ‘The Sheep Detectives’ in fifth place. The film enjoyed a slim 33% drop from its first weekend, taking in an additional USD 10.2 million and bringing its running total to USD 30.5 million.
Top 10 round up
‘Project Hail Mary’ took seventh place and ‘Is God Is’ rounding out the top 10. ‘Project Hail Mary’, which is now available to rent or buy at home, brought in another USD 3.4 million in its ninth weekend in theaters. ‘Is God Is’, Aleshea Harris’s adaptation of her Obie-winning play about twin sisters ( Kara Young and Mallori Johnson ) on a quest to find and kill their abusive father made USD 2.2 million in its first weekend in theaters. It has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.Meanwhile, the action caper ‘In the Grey’, released by Black Bear, made USD 3 million from 2,018 locations. Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza Gonzalez star in the film about a team of elite operatives on an impossible mission. It currently carries a 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and a B CinemaScore.There were also several high-profile re-releases in theaters this weekend, including ‘Top Gun’ which made USD 3.1 million, and ‘Shrek’ which earned $1.3 million.
Top 10 movies by domestic box office
With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:1. “Michael,” $26.1 million.2. “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” $18 million.3. “Obsession,” $16.1 million.4. “Mortal Kombat II,” $13.4 million.5. “The Sheep Detectives,” $9.3 million.6. “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” $4.5 million.7. “Project Hail Mary,” $3.9 million.8. “Top Gun” 40th Anniversary, $3.1 million.9. “In the Grey,” $3 million.10. “Is God Is,” $2.2 million.
