The Lego Batman Movie – cigarette burns and missed changeovers

The Lego Movie: The Second Part – £4,016,730 – NE

327^th biggest opening in the UK between Ralph Breaks The Internet and Ant-Man and 453^rd biggest inflation inflated between Ted 2 and Captain Phillips (close to Cars, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, Enchanted and The Lego Ninjago Movie)

Having the 58^th biggest animated opening between Ferdinand and A Peanuts Movie; 31^st biggest Fri-Sun opening between Ralph Breaks The Internet and Chicken Run; 23^rd biggest animated opening without previews

Opening the sequel the week after How To Train Your Dragon 3 was a surprising decision as opening two children’s films less than three weeks apart away from school holidays normally sees them cannibalize each other.

Normally the first family film to open is the bigger success, last year Ralph Breaks the Internet had a similar sized opening (£4,032,775) to The Lego Movie: The Second Part opening four weeks after The Grinch (holding strongly down only 29% despite mixed reviews taking £2,317,766 and £17,002,535 taking £27,610,501) Ralph Breaks the Internet went on to take £17,299,915 £6m+ less than 2013’s Wreck-It Ralph (£23,607,542).

February half-term family films

In 2018

Coco – opened 19th January £5,209,214 (£2,315,450 previews) taking £18,013,336

Early Man opened 26th January £2,020,653 taking £11,205,643

In 2017

Sing opened 27th January £10,487,380 (£4,201,298 previews) taking £28,840,000

The LEGO Batman Movie 10th February £7,906,468 (£2,449,040 previews) taking £26,771,191

In 2016

Goosebumps opened 5th February £2,686,105 (£1,004,560 previews)

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip opened 12th February £4,296,291 (£1,699,817 previews)

In 2015

Big Hero 6 opened 30th January £4,293,286 (£479,652 previews) taking £20,123,298

Shaun The Sheep Movie opened 6th February £2,095,061 taking £13,675,389

In 2014

Mr. Peabody and Sherman opened 7th February £3,916,559 (£1,385,602 previews) taking £13,552,917

The Lego Movie opened 14th February £8,051,140 (£2,155,094 previews) taking £32,887,286

Will be interesting how the Illumination Entertainment Vs Pixar blockbuster battle works out in June with three weeks separating The Secret Life of Pets and Toy Story 4 with neither having the benefit of school holidays until late in their release.

Normally both films are also inflated with weekend previews which also wasn’t the case with The Lego Movie: The Second Part and How To Train Your Dragon 3; after Warner Bros opened the original The Lego Movie the week after the US it was surprising, they didn’t do the same with the sequel and could have then had weekend previews this weekend. In 2014 The Lego Movie opened February 14^th with £8,051,140 (including £2,155,094 previews) and went on to take £32,887,286.

As the original film and The Lego Batman Movie (opening in February 2017 with £7,906,468 (including £2,449,040 previews) taking £26,771,191, The Lego Movie: The Second Part received positive reviews and the film is enjoyable as the previous films. While the sequel might not be as fresh and original as the first film that hasn’t stopped comic-book movies, Star Wars or Disney re-imaginations being repeating what they did before again and again.

The first The Lego Movie in 2014 was a real surprise when it was first announced many asked how could you possibly make a film about little plastic bricks but then the first teaser trailer was release in June 2013

Almost 40% of its opening weekend including previews (£3,177,129) was from 3D; in 2014 films would pay in 3D all day but in recent years as 3D box office has dropped off majority of the screenings would be 2D, for The Lego Movie: The Second Part very few performances were 3D.

Three years later The Lego Batman Movie opened and was one of the best Batman films and most enjoyable DC Universe films.

But six months later Warner Bros released The LEGO Ninjago Movie which was a bit too much Lego in one-year sharing many of the same jokes had the gap been more than 6 months would have probably done much better.

The Lego Ninjago Movie opened October 2017 with £3,642,038 (including £1,554,074 previews) taking £9,378,170.

One of the reasons used for Solo: A Star Wars Story underperforming is it opening five months after Star Wars: The Last Jedi, this excuse has also been given for why The Lego Ninjago Movie failed to be the success of The Lego Batman Movie and one of the reasons why The Lego Movie: The Second Part didn’t open as big as expected.

In February 2014 Warner Bros turn an ad break on TV into Lego and for The Lego Batman Movie Batman did the continuity announcements on Channel 4.

For The LEGO Movie: The Second Part Emmet introduced a Lego ad break during The Voice on February 2^nd

Alita: Battle Angel £3,198,180 – NE

Included £771,000 from previews on Wednesday and Thursday; (#1 Wednesday and Thursday) and was almost #1 on Friday taking £533,067

Had the 416^th biggest opening in the UK between The Smurfs 2 and The Hangover (close to London Has Fallen, Die Hard with a Vengeance and Charlie’s Angels) and 576^th biggest inflation inflated between Predator and Tomb Raider (close to Deep Impact, Black Hawk Down, District 9 and Green Lantern.

Took 42% of its opening weekend from 3D showing that cinemagoers are still happy to see films in 3D if the film is filmed in the format, the problem most have is greed took over exhibitors/studios adding a third more to ticket prices and retro-fitting many 2D films into 3D which barely looked much different with glasses off.

Screening Alita: Battle Angel 3D could have been a crafty move by 20^th Century Fox to get IMAX and bigger screens from The Lego Movie: The Second Part.

Ahead of its opening the film generated strong media coverage after having its world premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square, but reviews were mixed and talk was of a $200m flop, instead had a decent opening which was inflated with two days of previews, without would have opened third.

Ahead of release it was hard to pinpoint films to comparable films as it was sci-fi

2018’s Ready Player One opened £5,113,041 (£1,081,559 previews) taking £16,114,011

2001’s A.I. opened £2,285,786 (£287,830 previews) £4,135,395 inflation inflated taking £8,027,562 (£14,523,295 inflation inflated)

2005’s I, Robot opened £4,745,541 (£697,957 previews) £7,916,281 inflation inflated taking £17,572,456 (£29,313,518 inflation inflated)

2010’s Tron Legacy opened £1,970,692 taking £10,069,754

2015’s Jupiter Ascending opened £1,349,938 taking £4,241,234

but also female action

2014’s Lucy opened £3,076,997 taking £14,129,734

2017’s Atomic Blonde opened £1,686,430 (£555,569 previews) taking £3,063,918

2017’s Ghost in the Shell opened £2,300,753 (£354,110 previews) taking £5,554,260

2018’s Tomb Raider opened £3,081,916 (£529,702 previews) taking £7,739,354

And James Cameron

2009’s Avatar opened £8,509,050 (£11,715,585 inflation inflated) taking £94,025,474 (£129,457,868 inflation inflated)

2015’s Terminator Genisys opened with £3,793,617 (including £715,705 previews) taking £10,868,627. James Cameron initially praised the film but wasn’t involved with the film but is producing the latest Terminator film set for November release currently titled Terminator: Dark Fate.

The last screenplay James Cameron didn’t direct was 1995’s Strange Days made as part of Lightstorm Entertainment $500m production deal with 20th Century Fox (US) and Universal Pictures (International) in 1992.

Opened with $32m from 11 territories opening in the US this week expected to open with $25m+

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – £2,750,729 – £9,055,241

Down 48.3% in its second weekend due to the arrival of The Lego Movie: The Second Part as the two films are limited to Sat/Sun box office until half-term holidays begin next Monday likely cannibalized each other with How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World dropping much heavier than might have been expected and The Lego Movie: The Second Part opening 20% lower than expected.

Had the 221^st biggest second weekend between Mission: Impossible III and High School Musical 3 (close to Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted) and the 354^th biggest inflation inflated second weekend between The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Gnomeo and Juliet (close to Zootropolis, Kung Fu Panda 2, Home and Ice Age).

In 2010 How to Train Your Dragon dropped 71% in its second weekend (48% without previews) taking £1,399,017 and £9,782,793 dropping only 8% in week 3 (£1,282,519); Clash of the Titans #1 taking £2,441,682 as it was in its first weekend; Nanny McPhee & the Big Bang holding well in #4 £1,180,193 and £11,906,088 and Alice in Wonderland #5 £676,516 taking £40,083,901

How to Train Your Dragon opened the start of Easter holidays while the third film opened three weeks ahead of half-term which is one week.

In 2014 How to Train Your Dragon 2 dropped 76% in its second weekend (36% without £4,860,929 previews) taking £1,877,346 and £12,864,015 the first weekend of the summer holidays having far less competition Pudsey the Dog: The Movie opening #7 with £446,450 with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes #1 £8,705,995 targeting a much older audience; dropped far more in its third weekend 47% due to preview).

Bar a few exceptions (Turbo, Penguins of Madagascar and Captain Underpants) Dreamworks Animation films have been steady performers over recent years. While they might not be as successful as either Illumination Entertainment or Pixar, this is probably due to most of them being original films while most of Illumination Entertainment and Pixar films over recent years have been sequels. Of course this changes with Dreamworks Animation with sequels to Trolls, The Croods and The Boss Baby all being released over the next few years.

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is likely to take closer to the first films total £17,168,517 rather than the sequels £24,258,735.

Green Book – £1,070,922 – £3,624,275

Down 35.9% in its second weekend (13% without previews)

Due to media coverage and positive word of mouth Green Book is holding strongly and Mahershala Ali winning Best Supporting Actor BAFTA on Sunday and will win the Oscar in two weeks’ time. Will face competition from If Beale Street Could Talk expanding on Thursday.

Green Book is playing in 573 cinemas more than any other film in the top 10, always surprised how wide distributors now play art-house films as 20 years ago Green Book wouldn’t play in more than 200 cinemas and would probably be as successful. Since digital cinema films have opened much wider release but this must be cannibalizing box office and likely hurting independent cinemas the most.

Many compared Green Book with 1989’s Driving Miss Daisy its harder to make direct comparisons with more recent films 2014’s Dallas Buyers Club took £716,123 in its second weekend and £4,835,877 taking £5,195,689 and 2017’s Moonlight took £392,906 (Green Book is playing in almost 400 more screens in its second weekend) and £1,259,529 in its second weekend taking £4.3m.

Winning only Best Supporting Actor/Actress generates some media coverage but doesn’t really help the films performance as most of the films are played out by Oscar night.

Glass – £560,579 – £9,646,964

Down 40.6% in its fourth weekend

Has become M. Night Shyamalan fifth biggest film in the UK and will shortly overtake 2004’s The Village £9,980,280 (£16,648,619 inflation inflated);

1999’s The Sixth Sense took £25,407,279 (£46,288,321 inflation inflated).

2002’s Signs took £16,084,656 (£28,082,535 inflation inflated)

2000’s Unbreakable taking £11.22m (inflation inflated £19.56m)

2017’s Split took £11,018,069

97^th biggest film released by Disney between Into the Woods and Alice Through the Looking Glass (close to Tron Legacy, Pulp Fiction and Unbreakable) and 121^st biggest inflation inflated between Alice Through the Looking Glass and Flight Plan (close to King Arthur, Sin City, Insomnia and John Carter).

UK box office in detail

This weekend’s top 10 box office took £13,436,944 up 11.9% from last weekend £11,997,508

The weekend admissions 1,861,073 up 11.9% from last weekend 1,661,705 average ticket up from last year’s £7.49 the industry will claim average ticket price has dropped 3.2% to £7.25 in 2018

11 films opened at weekend taking (£7,994,524); The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part 50.2% (£4,016,730); Alita: Battle Angel 40.1% (£3,198,180); remaining 9 films shared 9.7% (£779,614): Top three took 66.2% (£7,940,745) of the top 10; The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (£4,016,730) 40.3%; Alita: Battle Angel (£3,198,180) 32.1%; How to Train Your Dragon 3 (£2,750,729 27.6%;

The weekend was down 6.4% from 2018: (£14,358,030); Fifty Shades Freed (£6,132,414); Tad The Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas (£302,312); The Mercy (£301,138); The 15:17 to Paris (£290,577); L’Elisir d’Amore Met Opera 2018 (£214,105); Status Update (£137,886); #1 Fifty Shades Freed £6,132,414 1st week

Down 40.4% from 2017: (£22,550,899); The LEGO Batman Movie (£7,906,468); Fifty Shades Darker (£7,557,485); The Space Between Us (£258,401); Fences (£102,688); Prevenge (£30,118); Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (£14,692); 20th Century Women (£60,203); #1 The LEGO Batman Movie (£7,906,468) 1^st week

Up 30,2% from 2016: (£10,312,748); Goosebumps (£2,686,105); Dad’s Army (£2,077,942); Point Break (£421,818); Trumbo (£146,105); #1 Goosebumps (£2,686,105) 1^st week

Up 16.7% from 2015; (£11,507,851); Shaun The Sheep Movie (£2,095,061); Jupiter Ascending (£1,349,938); Selma (£792,365); The Interview (£283,811); #1 Big Hero 6 (£2,540,116) 2^nd week down 41%

Up 13.2% from 2014: (£11,863,126); Mr. Peabody and Sherman (£3,916,559); RoboCop (£2,410,948); Rusalka – Met Opera 2014 (£277,460); I, Frankenstein (£155,535); #1 Mr. Peabody and Sherman (£3,916,559) 1^st week

Up 5.4% from 2013: (£12,741,358); Wreck-It Ralph (£4,526,380); I Give It A Year (£1,450,023); Warm Bodies (£895,509); Hitchcock (£606,817); #1 Wreck-It Ralph (£4,526,380) 1^st week

Up 6.5% from 2012 (£12,616,654); The Woman in Black (£3,153,020); The Muppets (£2,650,664); Star Wars: Episode I – Phantom Menace 3D (£1,528,156); A Dangerous Method (£186,775); Big Miracle (£149,796); #1 The Woman in Black (£3,153,020) 1^st week

Down 4.2% from 2011 (£14,039,027); The Fighter (£2,118,140); James Cameron presents Sanctum (£859,064); A Little Bit of Heaven (£443,156); Brighton Rock (£352,815); #1 Tangled (£4,569,135) 2^nd week -down 11%

Up 5.1% from 2010: (£12,786,495); The Princess And The Frog -expansion (£2,219,769); Invictus (£1,068,388); Youth In Revolt (£743,932); #1 Avatar (£4,338,774) 8^th week (11% drop)

Up 61.2% from 2009; (£8,335,147); The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (£2,213,495); He’s Just Not That Into You (£1,913,542); The Secret of Moonacre (£308,099); Doubt (£253,097); Vicky Cristina Barcelona (£243,684); Punisher: War Zone (£94,365); #1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (£2,213,495) 1^st week

Up 34.4% from 2008; (£9,992,789); National Treasure 2 (£2,483,297); Juno (£2,002,120); The Water Horse (£760,340); Definitely, Maybe (£698,041); There Will Be Blood (£215,490); The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (£106,911); Arctic Tale (£7,619); #1 National Treasure 2 (£2,483,297) 1^st week

Up 36.7% from 2007:(£9,827,338); Music and Lyrics (£1,929,058); Charlotte’s Web (£1,892,120); Epic Movie (£1,368,657); Hannibal Rising (£1,044,033); Goal! 2 (£326,807); The Reef (£208,259); #1 Music and Lyrics (£1,929,058) 1^st week

Up 24.1% from 2006; (£10,821,573): Chicken Little (£3,173,867); Final Destination 3 (£2,219,978); Big Momma’s House 2 (£1,735,839); The Little Polar Bear 2 (£80,915); #1 Chicken Little (£3,173,867) 1^st week

Up 26.2% from 2005 (£10,644,664); The Magic Roundabout (£1,569,843); The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (£1,252,322); Son of the Mask (£725,524); The Sea Inside (£89,507); #1 Meet the Fockers (£2,957,466) 3^rd week (36% drop)

Up 63.5% from 2004 (£8,214,642); School of Rock (£2,742,356); Something’s Gotta Give (£1,215,563); The Dreamers (£117,181); Charlie (£92,336); Intermission (£8,002); #1 School of Rock (£2,742,356) 1^st week

Up 19.8% from 2003 (£11,208,480); Two Weeks’ Notice (£2,636,050); Final Destination 2 (£1,675,057); The Wild Thornberrys (£1,430,610); Punch Drunk Love (£151,494); #1 Two Weeks’ Notice (£2,636,050) 1^st week

Down 12.9% from 2002 (£15,433,492); Monsters, Inc. (£9,200,257); From Hell (£891,862); Just Visiting (£121,414); #1 Monsters, Inc. (£9,200,257) 1^st week

Next weekend in 2018: (£29,122,391); Black Panther (£17,700,000); The Shape of Water (£2,466,217); Father Figures (£250,465); Lady Bird (£184,254); #1 Black Panther (£17,700,000) 1^st week

Also opened

All Is True – Sony Pictures

Opened with £266,767 from 252 screens included £26,000 from Q&A satellite screenings in 20 cinemas across the UK with Kenneth Branagh and writer Ben Elton on February 6^th.

Boy Erased – Universal Pictures

Opened with £118,585 from 116 screens

Without BAFTA and Oscar nominations failed to find an audience despite receiving critical acclaim in the crowded award contender marketplace. As always are many films distributors hold back to open in January/February in the hope they receive Oscar/BAFTA nominations but it’s a gamble that doesn’t always play off.

If Beale Street Could Talk – eOne

Opened with £252,462 (including £82,488 from previews) from 52 screens

Barry Jenkins Moonlight opened February 2017 with £621,836 from 85 screens; expanded into 175 screens in its second weekend taking £392,906 and £1,259,529 and expanded into 343 screens in its third weekend #5 £731,380 and £2,487,119 went on to take £4.3m.

Moonlight was nominated for eight Oscars winning three including Best Film, Best Supporting Actor Mahershala Ali and Best Adapted Screenplay.

If Beale Street Could Talk expands into 280 screens on Thursday and then another 20 on Friday.

Nominated for two BAFTAs and three Oscars has been overshadowed by Green Book at both BAFTAs and Oscars.

Also released

Bohemian Rhapsody – 20^th Century Fox

Took £243,514 down 17% in its 16^th weekend taking £52.904,257

Has become the 26^th biggest film in the UK between Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 57^th biggest inflation inflated between The King’s Speech and The Matrix Reloaded.

Overtaking 1997’s The Full Monty (£52,264,984) becoming 20^th Century Fox’s fourth biggest film in the UK after Avatar, Titanic and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

UK Biggest BO feb 12

The Greatest Showman took £623,091 #6 down 8% in its 16^th weekend behind Rampage, Peter Rabbit, A Quiet Place, Ready Player One and Truth or Dare taking £44,928,180 92.8%of £48.3m total; if Bohemian Rhapsody holds similarly could take £54m+ would be the 17^th biggest film in the UK.

Won two BAFTA awards on Sunday for Best Actor Rami Malek and Best Sound and now could win Best Actor Oscar in two weeks’ time. With half-term next week could have a box office boost before its released-on DVD in a few weeks’ time could end on about £55m.

Rami Malek thanked Dexter Fletcher in his BAFTA acceptance speech not mentioning Bryan Singer. Few days earlier BAFTA removed Bryan Singer’s name on the award nomination which made many speculate the film had won major award.

Mary Poppins Returns

Took £275,315 in its 8^th weekend taking £43,341,386 (15^th biggest Disney film in the UK)

52^nd biggest film in the UK between Toy Story 2 and Finding Dory and 82^nd biggest inflation inflated between Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and Finding Dory.

Mary Poppins Returns had all the same nostalgic ingredients Disney has had so much success with over recent years with their other re-imaginations being the sequel to the beloved childhood classic as Star Wars was should have been equally as successful. After receiving widespread critical acclaim it was expected to be the biggest film of the year and have similar legs as last years The Greatest Showman.

Instead this will likely be its final week in the top 10 and will take about £5m less than The Greatest Showman and about £10m less than Bohemian Rhapsody. Ahead of its release many expected Mary Poppins Returns to receive Oscar and BAFTA nominations and be favourite to win Best Song at the BAFTAs and Oscar, Shallow by Lady Gaga won for A Star Is Born BAFTA last week and will likely also win the Oscar in two weeks’ time.

What amazed me when I watched Mary Poppins Returns was how average it was and its music which amazed me about the critical reaction it received as do wonder if critics saw a different film as what I saw was instantly forgettable and is no wonder the soundtrack hasn’t charted in the UK while The Greatest Showman is still in the top 5 for over a year.

BH VS MPR UK BO Feb 11

Eighth weekends

Bohemian Rhapsody took £537,344 #8 down 45% taking £45,147,461 (82.8%) of its final box office of about £54m

Mamma Mia: Here we Go Again! took £726,771 #4 taking £63,232,313 (96.5%) of £65,515,994

The Greatest Showman took £1,927,367 #4 down 0% #2 taking £30,414,668 (62.8%) of £48.4m total

UK Box Office Top 10

UK BO Feb 12

US Box office

US BO Feb 12

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part – Warner Bros

Opened with $34.11m received positive reviews 85% Rotten Tomatoes score and A- CinemaScore

A month ago the film was tracking to open with up to $60m even a few days before opening was expected to open with $55m+; on Friday this had dropped to $30m less than half The Lego Movie opened with five years ago.

Normally it’s easy to understand why film under or over performs but with The LEGO Movie: The Second Part it’s hard to find a reason as marketing was good reviews positive film was fun similar to previous films was 18 months after last film had no competition everything should have been awesome? Some have said four films in five years have been an oversaturation of The Lego brand but over those five years have been many more comic-book movies that feel more lie Groundhog Day to me than a Lego Movie.

On Friday Warner Bros found it was playing to a much younger audience than the original film which was surprising as the sequel might not have the originality of the first film still was much more fun, silly and very enjoyable and after a poor January should have been the perfect film to get people back to the cinema again.

Many have suggested The Lego Ninjago Movie hurt the Lego brand in 2017 with Warner Bros opening two Lego films within six months; The Lego Movie 2 should have been the third film with Lego Ninjago released afterwards as it did weaken the brand.

2017’s The Lego Batman Movie $53m but less than 2014’s The Lego Movie $69.1m and more than twice as big as The Lego Ninjago Movie $20.43m taking $59.28m and $123.1m worldwide

The Lego Movie took $257.76m in the US and $469.2m worldwide

The Lego Batman Movie took $175.75m in the US and $312m worldwide

Opened with $18.1m from 63 territories was similar to The Lego Movie with $18.4m in 2014 from 33 territories

What Men Want – Paramount Pictures

Opened with $18.23m; received mixed reviews 45% Rotten Tomatoes but audience reaction far more positive CinemaScore A-

Female remake of the 2000 film What Women Want opened with $33.6m taking $182.81m and $374.1m worldwide at the high point of Mel Gibson’s acting career.

The $20m budget film is likely to hold similar to Night School taking about $60m and as Night School won’t travel too well.

Over recent years have been several gender switch remakes including 2016’s Ghostbusters, 2018’s Overboard and Ocean’s Eight and later this year Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson star in the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels remake The Hustle, while Disney are developing a Splash reboot starring Channing Tatum as the merman.

These remakes have had mixed reception both critically and at the box office.

Taraji P. Henson will next star in The Best of Enemies with Sam Rockwell opening in April.

Cold Pursuit – Lionsgate

Opened with $11.03m received mixed reviews 73% Rotten Tomatoes score and B- CinemaScore

Audiences still came out to see Cold Pursuit even after Liam Neeson’s comments during the press junket which generated huge media coverage which saw the red-carpet interviews cancelled for its US premiere.

Opened close to 2015’s Run All Night $11.1m taking $26.46m but less than 2018’s The Commuter $13.7m taking $38.3m; 2014’s Non-Stop $28.87m taking $92.16m 2011’s Unknown $21.85m taking $63.68m

11 years ago Liam Neeson’s Taken opened in the US with $24.7m taking $145m two sequels followed Taken 2 opening in 2012 with $49.51m taking $139.85m and Taken 3 opening in 2015 with $39.1m taking $89.25m.

Glass – Universal Pictures

Down 34.2% in its fourth weekend with $6.27m and $98.33m

Having similar third weekend drop as 2000’s Unbreakable (47.8%) holding better than The Village –56.5%; The Happening -62.7%; After Earth -62.2%; Lady in the Water -62.1%; The Last Airbender -53.4%; but less than The Visit -42.3%; Signs –34.3%; Split -43.8%; The Sixth Sense -7%;

M. Night Shyamalan fourth weekends

2017’s Split took $9.52m down 34% taking $112.49m of $138.29m; $278.45m worldwide

2015’s The Visit took $3.97m down 40.5% taking $57.71m of $65.2m; $98.45m worldwide

2013’s After Earth took $4.05m down 76.8% taking $940,031 and $57.38m of $60.22m; $243.84m worldwide

2008’s The Happening took $1.43m down 63.2% taking $62.05m and $64.5m; $163.4m worldwide

2004’s The Village took $3.72m down 48% taking $107.04m and $114.19m; $256.69m worldwide

2002’s Signs took $14.28m down 26.2% taking $173.1m and $227.96m; $408,24m worldwide

2000’s Unbreakable took $3.73m down 50.5% taking $83.1m and $95.01m; $248.11m worldwide

1999’s The Sixth Sense took $20.09m down 16.1% taking $138.85m and $293.5m; $672.8m worldwide

M. Night Shyamalan films have taken $1.33bn in the US and $2.98bn worldwide

Internationally took $12.2m from 54 territories and $110.3m total and $221.5m worldwide #667 biggest film between Geostorm and Presumed Innocent

Top territories UK $12.6m; Russia $10.5m; Mexico $10.5m; France $8.9m; Germany $8.0m; Australia $6.8m; Split’s top territories UK $11.3m; Russia $10.1m; Mexico $9.5m; France $7.6m.

The Prodigy – Orion Pictures

Opened with $5.85m; received average reviews 43% Rotten Tomatoes and C+ CinemaScore

The director had to re-edit the film because of test audience screaming as they were missing the dialogue; trailer has been seen incredibly over 25m times on YouTube

Aquaman – Warner Bros

Down 34.3% in its eighth weekend taking $3.2m and $328.44m; #62 biggest film in the US between Deadpool 2 and Shrek the Third.

Aquaman has overtaken Suicide Squad ($325.1m) and by the weekend will also overtake Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($330.36m) to become Warner Bros sixth biggest film in the US after The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Wonder Woman, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and American Sniper.

8^th weekends;

Suicide Squad took $3.1m down 33.9% and $318.13m of $325.1m

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice took $520k down 50.4% and $328.2m of $330.1m

Man of Steel took $466k down 37.7% and $287.68m of $291.04m

Wonder Woman took $4.6m down 32.3% and $389.1m of $412.56m

Justice League took $556k down 53.5% and $227.03m of $229.02m

Aquaman is Warner Bros 7^th biggest film in the US between Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and It.

Warner Bros now have five films that have taken over $1bn worldwide Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part 2, The Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Aquaman and The Dark Knight.

The six DC Extended Universe films have taken $1.91bn in the US and $4.97bn worldwide

Next for DC is Shazam! Opening in April and Joker in October with Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman 1984 set for 2020 and Warner Bros dated The Batman (without Ben Affleck) for June 2021 and The Suicide Squad in August 2021.

Took $4.6m internationally from 77 territories $791m total and $1.12bn worldwide; #21 biggest film worldwide between Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Skyfall and Transformers: Age of Extinction; top territories China: $291.8m; Korea: $39.1m; Brazil: $35.7m; Mexico: $30.4m; Australia: $29.2m; UK: $28.6m; France: $27.3m; Germany: $24.3m; Russia: $19.6m

Mary Poppins Returns – Disney

Down 59.3% in its eighth weekend taking $830,005 (dropped 862 screens) and $169.76m

Mary Poppins Returns opened with 167% more than The Greatest Showman receiving critical acclaim (78% Rotten Tomatoes) compared to 56% for The Greatest Showman and was the key Christmas release against Aquaman and Bumblebee (The Greatest Showman was fourth against Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Pitch Perfect 3) and had the nostalgia factor that has served Disney so well in the past.

Box office experts expected Mary Poppins Returns to have similar legs as The Greatest Showman but was never going to play long as while critics might have loved it, many cinemagoers felt it was as fake as critics felt The Greatest Showman was a year ago.

Mary Poppins Returns is likely to come short of The Greatest Showman, but shouldn’t of ever been compared box office to The Greatest Showman as is nostalgic factor, the hype, critical acclaim and award nominations should of taken more than double The Greatest Showman box office by now similar to other reimaginations 2010’s Alice in Wonderland $334.19m or 2016’s The Jungle Book $364m.

Mary Poppins Returns took 102% more than The Greatest Showman in week 2 but in week 7 has dropped down to 18.3%

The Greatest Showman took $6.44m in its eighth weekend (676% more) down 16.3% and $146.57m 84.1% of $174.34m

Took $2.5m from 23 territories and $166m total and $335.7m globally; #385 biggest film between Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Over the Hedge (The Greatest Showman #249 $435m; La La Land #241 $446.1m; Mamma Mia! #144 $609.9m); top territories UK $55.1m; Italy $14.7m; Australia $13.6m; France $11.4m; Spain $10.7m; Germany $10.3m

Mary Poppins Returns now take about $340m worldwide $50m less than Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again ($394.7m) almost $100m less than The Greatest Showman and less than half of Bohemian Rhapsody which must have been close to its global total box office expected.

Green Book – Universal Pictures

Down 20.8% in its thirteenth weekend taking $3.44m (dropping 499 screens) and $61.37m

Green Book continues to surprise with its hold similar to The Upside both connecting with audiences far more than critics despite both having non-film related issues that could have affected its box office.

With no clear award winners Green Book has become the favourite for many who believe Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen could win Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor at the Oscars. Richard E Grant could possibly beat Mahershala Ali for Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Depending on Oscar success Green Book could take anywhere between $79m-$90m.

Green Book has taken $81.37m worldwide more than the global box office of Moonlight which took $27.85m in the US and $65.1m worldwide.

Took $11.4m from 54 Lionsgate/Amblin territories with $44.6m total and $106.1m worldwide

The Favourite – Fox Searchlight

Took $814,423 down 48.7% in its twelfth weekend (dropping 949 screens) and $30.21m.

The Favourite as A Star Is Born was award favourite ever since it premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August but after Glenn Close surprise Golden Globe Best Actress win for The Wife last month Olivia Coleman could miss out on Best Actress Oscar.

The Favourite has yet to enter the top 10 and is now unlikely unless wins big at the Oscars, which is now unlikely even after winning seven BAFTAs including Best British Film and Best Actress for Olivia Coleman as Roma is now almost certainly gong to overshadow it at the Oscars. The only hope is Academy members get sentimental The Favourite will be 20^th Century Fox’s last Oscar win in its 83 year history.

Took $4.1m from 31 territories and $39m total and $70.2m worldwide

Bohemian Rhapsody – 20^th Century Fox

Took $1.3m in its fifteenth weekend #15 down 28.4% taking $210.56m; #179 biggest film in the US between Austin Powers in Goldmember and 300;

12^th biggest film of 2018 between Venom and A Star is Born; second biggest 20^th Century Fox film of 2018 (over the next few weeks could overtake Venom, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Ant-Man and the Wasp and Mission Impossible: Fallout) and 20^th Century Fox’s 21^st biggest film ever between X2 and The Empire Strikes Back.

Weekend box office $5m from 39 territories $633.7m total (become 20th Century Fox’s fifth biggest film internationally after Avatar $2,035bn; Titanic $1,535bn; Ice Age: Continental Drift $722m; Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs $692m) taking $844.3m total globally; #69 biggest film between Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen; has now become the 12^th biggest original film ever globally.

Bohemian Rhapsody is 20^th Century Fox’s 7^th biggest film ever globally after Avatar, Titanic, Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Ice Age: Continental Drift and Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith; biggest territories Japan $101.2m; South Korea $75.9m; UK $68.4m; Australia $37.5m; France $37.3m; Italy $32.6m; Germany $32.75m; Spain $30.37m; Holland $22.03m;

In Japan became the first foreign film to take $100m since 2017’s Beauty and the Beast and the first for 20^th Century Fox since Avatar.

UK Feb 19 preds

UK Box Office Predictions

For the seventh week UK box office is likely to disappoint but the box office slumber started six weeks earlier with Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opening lower than expected and its not likely to wake up from it until Captain Marvel opens in four weeks’ time. Even then will likely fall short until Avengers: Endgame 8 week later.

The weekend ahead of half term holidays children’s films The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part and How to Train Your Dragon 3 both likely to drop about 30% similar to last year Coco dropping 27% and Early Man 25% in their second weekends ahead of the start of half-term holidays.

In 2017 The Lego Batman Movie dropped 19% (not including previews) and Sing dropped 10% in its fourth weekend (also the weekend before half-term)

Alita: Battle Angel should have a decent hold (still 45%+ due to opening weekend having 45 days)

Despite failing to find an audience in the US a few weeks ago the British setting, cast and Joe Cornish should see The Kid Who Would Be King open similar to £1,133,859 over its four-day weekend.

Instant Family unlikely to open as big as Daddy’s Home or similarly themed Cheaper by the Dozen films but should have a decent opening and performance over half-term.

Happy Death Day 2U should open similar to the first film (£998,388) the problem with it is it’s a borderline 15 film having a PG-13 certificate blockbusters get downgraded to 12A, but teen horrors get a 15 and means the target audience can’t see it.

Not a horror fan but enjoyed Happy Death Day as is similar tonally to the Scream films of 20 years ago and the original film have strangely watched many times on Sky Cinema and was a fun horror film, early reviews say the sequel is more fun but being a sequel not as original.

After opening in 52 screens last weekend Barry Jenkin’s If Beale Street Could Talk expands into 300+ screens likely to expand less than Moonlight £731,380

Opening in UK Next Week

Cold Pursuit – Studiocanal UK

Action starring Liam Neeson, Laura Dern, Emmy Rossum, and Tom Bateman and directed by Hans Petter Moland it is a remake of the Norwegian film In Order of Disappearance.

Cold Pursuit was going through its normal pre-release schedule with its press junket but then Liam Neeson decided for some unknown reason to talk about something that happened 40 years ago about wanting to kill a black man after finding out someone close to him was raped. He didn’t go through with his actions and knew what he thought was wrong, but this still generated huge coverage in the media in the days afterwards.

For many men reacting to news about a woman close to them being hurt physically or mentally, they want to hit out at the individual that hurt the woman, of course not condoning either action, but some of the reaction to his comments were over the top including many wanting Sony pictures to digitally remove him from Men in Black international.

Two years ago after the allegations against Kevin Spacey Sony Pictures reshot All the Money in the World featuring with Christopher Plumber. The difference was Kevin Spacey allegations were against something he did rather than something he thought of doing. I’m sure we have all thought of doing things that we would all be locked up for, but we don’t like in a pre-crime society as the film Minority Report.

Studiocanal financed the film and Lionsgate acquired US rights in January 2017

The Commuter opened February 2018 with £1,602,680 taking £3,643,253

Run All Night opened March 2015 with £823,833 taking £2,037,542

Non-Stop opened February 2014 with £2,652,364 taking £9,365,368

Unknown opened March 2011 with £1,356,345 taking £6,546,287

Up to 2008 Liam Neeson made a wide mix of films from action, drama and rom-com but it all changed in 2008 with Taken, the film made by EuropaCorp 20^th Century Fox had acquired via an output deal was expected to go straight to DVD in the US and UK. After being surprise hit in France and China in early 2008 opened in the UK September with £1,165,986 taking £6,277,639 and was a massive hit on DVD. Taken 2 opened with a massive £7,378,048 in October 2012 taking £23,458,794 and Taken 3 opened with a strong £6,714,530 in January 2015 taking £17,456,640.

Taken was released five months later in the US opening with $24.71m taking $145m and $226.8m worldwide; Taken 2 took $376.14m worldwide and Taken 3 $326.4m worldwide and it launch Liam Neeson action film career.

Liam Neeson’s action films since Taken could be seen as Taken in different situations o a plane, on a train and in a snow plow; when the first trailer was released many compared it with The Simpsons Mr Plow episode. While reviews have called it Taken on Ice.

On the Basis of Sex – eOne

Biographical legal drama film based on the life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg starring Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Jack Reynor, Cailee Spaeny, Sam Waterston, and Kathy Bates and directed by Mimi Leder.

Had world premiere at the AFI Fest on in November receiving positive reviews (71% Rotten Tomatoes score) with platform release date of Christmas Day was seen as a potential award contender. Underwhelmed on limited release and then failed to find an audience missing out on receiving any award nominations.

Was overshadowed by the Ruth Bader Ginsburg documentary which opened in May on limited release $578,470 taking $14,017,361 playing in a maximum of 432 screens less than a quarter of screens On the Basis of Sex was showing in.

Over recent years eOne has had a very strong first two months of the year as acquire many award contenders which they release in January/February On the Basic of Sex is their fifth film after Stan & Ollie, Vice, Green Book and If Beale Street Could Talk.

After failing to find an audience in the US its unlikely to find an audience in the UK

Fighting With My Family – Lionsgate (Wednesday)

Biographical sports comedy-drama based on the 2012 documentary The Wrestlers: Fighting with My Family starring Florence Pugh, Jack Lowden, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Dwayne Johnson and Vince Vaughn written and directed by Stephen Merchant and produced by Dwayne Johnson.

In February was announced Dwayne Johnson and Stephen Merchant had teamed with WWE Studios and Film4 to produce a film based on the life of Saraya “Paige” Bevis.

MGM acquired rights in February 2017 for $17.5m; premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2019 receiving positive reviews.

Opening in the US

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – Universal Pictures

The third and final part of the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy; featuring voices of Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Kit Harington, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Justin Rupple, Kristen Wiig and F. Murray Abraham and written and directed by Dean DeBlois,

It is the first DreamWorks Animation film to be distributed by Universal Pictures after they acquired the animated studio in August 2016 for $3.6bn; 20th Century Fox released Dreamworks Animation films from 2013 to 2017; were previously released by Paramount Pictures between 2006 and 2012 and before released by Dreamworks from 1998 to 2005 (Antz the first released in October 1998)

Tracking last month to open between $40-$45m but that was also when The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part was tracking to open with $55m+.

Opened in Australia and New Zealand to coincide with Australia’s summer holidays opening in the UK February 1st

How to Train Your Dragon opened March 2010 with $43.73m taking $217.58m

How to Train Your Dragon 2 opened June 2014 with $49.45m taking $172.1m

The three How to Train Your Dragon films have taken $1.2bn worldwide and $394.58m in the US; all three films have been released by different studios, first by Paramount Pictures in 2010 and the sequel in 2014 by 20th Century Fox.

The 38 Dreamworks Animation films have taken over $14.5bn worldwide over the last 21 years; Shrek 2 is the biggest Dreamworks Animation film in the US taking $441.2m and $919.8m worldwide; in comparison the 9 Illumination Entertainment films have taken $4.1bn worldwide since 2007.

Took $38.2m from 13 territories and $138.7m total

Category: The Lego Batman Movie

Everything continues to be not so awesome at the BO in 2019 UK/US Box Office February 8th- 10th week 6

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