As the box office heats up this festive season, one movie in particular continues to show relentless force with a good grip at the top of the box office chart.
Disney-Lucas films “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is showing plenty of force worldwide as the movie hits a staggering $745.4 million globally as of Sunday.
“The Last Jedi” took in an estimated $32 million Monday on Christmas Day at 4,232 North American sites. The North American take has hit $365 million in its first 10 days as of Sunday making it the third highest domestic release in 2017 following “Beauty and the Beast” with $504 million and “Wonder Woman” at $412 million.
That’s the second highest total ever on the day, trailing only 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” at $49.3 million and topping “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” from a year ago by at least $6 million.
“Stars Wars: The Last Jedi” has totaled $380.3 million in international box office. It is already the top grossing film of 2017 in both Denmark and Sweden and the fourth highest grosser in the overall European market. The U.K. is the top market with $67.4 million, followed by Germany with $40 million, France with $29.3 million and Australia with $26.9 million.
“The Last Jedi,” which picks up following the events of 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” is so far the 87th highest worldwide grosser of all time, trailing 2016’s “Suicide Squad” by $1.4 million. Rian Johnson directed with Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong’o and Domhnall Gleeson reprising their roles. It’s the final screen role for Fisher, who died a year ago.
Also, Sony’s action comedy “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” is leading the rest of the pack with an estimated $52 million at 3,765 North American sites for the Friday-Monday period and a six-day total of around $69 million. “Jumanji” also opened solidly with $49.5 million in 53 international markets for the Friday-Sunday weekend.
Josh Greenstein, Sony’s president of worldwide marketing and distribution, pointed to the A- Cinemascore as an indication that “Jumanji” is attracting all demographics. “We have incredible momentum as we go into the biggest moviegoing week of the year,” he added.
Universal’s “Pitch Perfect 3” took in about $26 million at 3,447 theatres for the four-day period. “Pitch Perfect 3″also opened with $9.8 million in 14 international markets during the weekend.
Hugh Jackman’s “The Greatest Showman,” a musical take on circus founder P.T. Barnum, is projected to gross $14 million at 3,006 venues during Friday-Monday. The movie, produced by Chernin Entertainment, opened on Dec. 20 and is on track to take in about $18.6 million in its first six days.
Paramount’s “Downsizing” has debuted softly with $7.3 million at 2,558 theaters during its Friday-Monday launch. The studio paid $65 million for the near-future comedy in which Matt Damon decides to become five inches tall in order to live in luxury. Audiences gave the film an unimpressive C CinemaScore.
“Downsizing” finished in seventh place behind Fox’s second weekend of “Ferdinand” with $9.7 million at 3,630 sites and Disney-Pixar’s fifth weekend of “Coco” with $7.4 million at 2,111 locations. “Coco,” which led the North American box office for three weekends before “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” opened, has totaled $163.5 million in 34 days.
Focus Features’ expanded run of World War II drama “Darkest Hour” came in eighth place with $5.4 million at 806 venues for the Friday-Sunday period. The film, starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill, has grossed $8.3 million so far in a month of limited release.
R-rated comedy “Father Figures” grossed a quiet $5 million at 2,902 theaters in ninth place during Friday-Monday for Warner Bros., which is distributing through its output deal with Alcon Entertainment. .
Fox Searchlight’s expanded run of Guillermo Del Toro’s “The Shape of Water” followed in 10th with $4.3 million at 726 locations. The fantasy drama, nominated for a leading seven Golden Globes, has totaled $8.9 million in four weeks of limited release.
“The Post,” directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, performed impressively in its platform release with $830,000 at nine sites for Friday-Monday.
