Since the Chicago Bears is Scott’s team and he knows every move of the “Super Bowl Shuffle” its fitting that for the weekend of the big game the winner was an animated panda that knows how to move his weight around. Kung Fu Panda 3 finished atop the box office for the second weekend in a row with an estimated haul of $21 million. It and new release Hail, Caesar! (No. 2 with $11.4M) were the only films that registered double-digit earnings.
The three newcomers in the Top 10 totaled $22.6M overall, which is not the best way to start the month of February. But not to fear because Deadpool is almost here! The opening of Deadpool will give movie theaters a boost as it is tracking to have an opening upwards of $75 million.
In other box office news, Star Wars: The Force Awakens has crossed $2 billion worldwide, joining James Cameron’s Avatar and Titanic as the only films to reach that milestone. The Revenant and its $7.1 million weekend gives it serious Oscar box office clout as we approach the annual gala, where I expect it to win multiple high honors for acting, directing and Best Picture of the Year.
The Choice and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies fumbled during their opening weekends, finishing No. 5 and No. 6 with $6 million and $5.2 million, respectively.
Outside of the top 10 and also of importance for those cinephiles looking to catch all the Oscar-nominated films, IFC’s 45 Years added 62 locations and saw an eight percent rise in attendance to finish with $511k. Also, the 2016 Oscar Nominated Shorts hauled in $400k at 150 locations.
As already stated, Deadpool will dominate Valentine’s Day weekend, followed by the sequel to Zoolander. I have no clue on what How to Be Single is. Oh, wait, that’s the Fifty Shades of Grey spin-off with Anna Steele hanging out with Fat Amy and Judd Apatow’s wife, right?
Top 10 below.
01. Kung Fu Panda 3 – $21 Million ($69M)
02. Hail, Caesar! – $11.4 Million
03. The Revenant – $7.1 Million ($149.7M)
04. Star Wars: The Force Awakens – $6.9 Million ($905.9M)
05. The Choice – $6 Million
06. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – $5.2 Million
07. The Finest Hours – $4.7 Million ($18.3M)
08. Ride Along 2 – $4.5 Million ($77.2M)
09. The Boy – $4.09 Million ($26.9M)
10. Dirty Grandpa – $4.05 Million ($29.3M)
