Rise of Skywalker still #1 at box office

For the weekend of January 3-5, 2020, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker continues to rule. It’s now made over $915 million worldwide and should cross the $1 billion mark sometime next week. It’s not the force that Force Awakens was, but it should wind up grossing about as much as The Last Jedi. I also think the decision to not have another Star Wars movie for a good three years is a smart one. People can get their fix from DisneyPlus.

The only new wide release was The Grudge, a reboot that critics hated it, and so the quick $11 million opening it got means it should sink quickly, and so studios have tried and failed again to revive a horror franchise. Meanwhile we have reboots of Saw and Candyman coming this summer.

Of the holdovers, Jumanji: Next Level is doing quite well, thank you, at over $600 million worldwide, and if they want to make another one, the box office receipts are there to justify it.

Frozen II has passed $1.3 billion worldwide.

1917 is doing great in limited release. Just Mercy is doing decently, but it could use more award buzz around Jamie Foxx to bolster its box office potential.

Golden Globes are tonight!

Opens January 10

LIKE A BOSS with Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek.

UNDERWATER with Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, Jessica Henwick and TJ Miller.

(wide) 1917 with George Mackey, Dean-Charles Chapman and Colin Firth.

(wide) JUST MERCY with Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larsen.

Black Panther sets February box office record

For the weekend of February 16-18, 2018, Black Panther has shattered February box office records. Deadpool's $132 million was the previous record holder for February opening weekend. In fact, Black Panther is the fifth highest opening ever, behind Star Wars 7 & 8, Jurassic World, and The Avengers.

The other new releases, Early Man and Samson, flopped. Aardman's been having less and less success domestically, but they tend to make their budgets back overseas.

Jumanji and Greatest Showman are continuing their amazing runs.

Opens February 23
GAME NIGHT with Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams and Kyle Chandler.
ANNIHILATION with Natalie Portman, Oscar Isaac and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
EVERY DAY with Debby Ryan, Maria Bello, Owen Teague and Colin Ford.

Jumanji still #1, 12 Strong #2

For the weekend of January 19-21, 2018, Jumanji fought off all newcomers to be #1 again. (I'm surprised they haven't announced a sequel yet, but then Dwayne Johnson has a TV series and his next five movies lined up.) It's now grossed over $760 million worldwide.

Of the 2018 titles, 12 Strong followed the January tradition of War on Terror movies being released, though it's been diminishing returns since the days of American Sniper and Lone Survivor. 12 Hours did better than Patriots Day and about as well as 13 Hours.

Oscar hopefuls Phantom Thread and Call Me By Your Name expanded, but they couldn't find an audience. Maybe if they'd waited a week after nominations have been announced...

It's pretty impressive how The Greatest Showman is still in the top five. It looked like it might lose money after its low opening but it's been a real crowd-pleaser.

The Last Jedi has now grossed about $1.3 billion worldwide.

Coco has grossed $200 million domestically for a worldwide total of $655 million.

Opens January 26
MAZE RUNNER: DEATH CURE with Dylan O'Brien and Thomas Brodie-Sangster.

Jumanji bests Insidious 4 at box office

For the weekend of January 5-7, 2018, Jumanji: WTTJ finally managed to dethrone The Last Jedi. It's the first non-Fast & Furious movie starring Dwayne Johnson to pass the $200 million domestic mark.

The one new wide release was Insidious: The Last Key. It's a financial hit, to the point where I have to imagine the studio's trying to figure what they can spin off from it like the Conjuring universe.

I'm a little bummed The Disaster Artist isn't doing better. Most of the Globes winners were from movies that are already on their way out. Darkest Hour might have expanded at the right time.

Opens January 12
PADDINGTON 2 with Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins.
PROUD MARY with Taraji P. Henson, Neal McDonough and Danny Glover.
THE COMMUTER with Liam Neeson, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson.
(exp) THE POST with Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and Sarah Paulson.

Last Jedi #1, Jumanji #2 at box office

For the weekend of December 22-24, 2017, Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi had a massive dropoff (as movies that open that big tend to do) and still held on to the #1 spot. Sony has to be tickled with the performance of Jumanji: WTTJ. The weekend after Christmas, movies tend to hold on pretty well, so it's realistic for it to be looking to pass $150 million domestic and $400 million worldwide. Dwayne Johnson needed a return to box office glory after Baywatch flopped.

Pitch Perfect 3 did well despite bad reviews. Looks like it's ending the franchise at the right time.

The Greatest Showman may be able to boast about its Golden Globe nominations, but that's a disappointing opening. Nowhere near as disappointing for Downsizing, a high-concept comedy that's been met with lukewarm reception. Father Figures is a flat-out bomb.

Of the expanding titles, Darkest Hour managed the better per-screen average than The Shape of Water. In limited release The Post did outstanding while Hostiles fizzled.

I'm a little bummed The Disaster Artist isn't doing better.

Opens December 25
ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD with Michelle Williams and Mark Wahlberg.