{"id":158583,"date":"2018-04-02T03:19:52","date_gmt":"2018-04-02T07:19:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=158583"},"modified":"2018-04-02T03:19:52","modified_gmt":"2018-04-02T07:19:52","slug":"spielbergs-ready-player-one-tops-holiday-box-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2018\/04\/02\/spielbergs-ready-player-one-tops-holiday-box-office\/","title":{"rendered":"Spielberg’s ‘Ready Player One’ tops holiday box office"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ready<\/a>
Ready Player One Movie Poster (Photo: Ready Player One Movie\/Facebook<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LOS ANGELES \u2014 Steven Spielberg has found his way back to the top of the box office with the action-adventure \u201cReady Player One,\u201d while Tyler Perry has scored again with \u201cAcrimony.\u201d<\/p>\n

Studio estimates on Sunday say Spielberg’s virtual reality-focused film earned a solid $53.2 million in its first four days in theatres from 4,234 locations since opening Wednesday night, with $41.2 million of that coming from the three-day weekend.<\/p>\n

Not adjusted for inflation, it’s Spielberg’s best opening in a decade following \u201cIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,\u201d which launched with $100.1 million in 2008. Aside from \u201cThe BFG,\u201d Spielberg has lately favoured smaller historical dramas instead of the big-scale blockbusters of his heyday.<\/p>\n

Based on Ernest Cline’s popular novel and chock-full of references to 1980s pop culture, including some nods to Spielberg’s own films, \u201cReady Player One\u201d is a return to the popcorn filmmaking that he became known for. With that includes a reportedly hefty $175 million price tag, which does not account for marketing costs.<\/p>\n

Audiences gave the film an A- CinemaScore, and reviews have been warm, too (it’s sitting at a 76 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes). Those who turned out this weekend were mostly male (59 per cent) and over the age of 25 (56 per cent).<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s great to be in the Steven Spielberg business,\u201d said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.’ president of domestic distribution. \u201cWe always believed that this movie itself would carry the day and that’s really what happened. We’ve seen all around the globe that the word of mouth is really propelling it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Goldstein said while advance ticket sales were solid, the walk-up business was particularly robust on Friday and Saturday.<\/p>\n

Internationally, the film exceeded the studio’s expectations with $128 million from 62 territories, including $61.7 million from China (the biggest-ever opening in the country for Warner Bros.). Globally it grossed $181.3 million.<\/p>\n

ComScore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian said the performance of \u201cReady Player One\u201d should be judged in the context of the marketplace, which is down significantly (24.1 per cent) from last March and has seen nearly every film since \u201cBlack Panther\u201d open in the \u201cmiddling to good range.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of them have set the world on fire,\u201d Dergarabedian said. \u201cWe’re living in a world where a $52.3 million gross for the first four days is a really good number.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTyler Perry’s Acrimony\u201d took second place. Driven by an overwhelmingly female audience, the film starring Taraji P. Henson grossed $17.1 million over the 3-day weekend, followed by \u201cBlack Panther\u201d in third place with $11.3 million.<\/p>\n

With $650.7 million in domestic grosses, \u201cBlack Panther\u201d is poised to pass \u201cJurassic World’s\u201d $652 million to become the fourth highest grossing domestic release of all time.<\/p>\n

A batch of faith-based films also competed for attention leading up to the Easter holiday, including \u201cI Can Only Imagine,\u201d which scored again with $10.8 million to take fourth place. It outshined \u201cPaul, Apostle of Christ,\u201d which earned $3.5 million in weekend two and the new opener, \u201cGod’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness,\u201d which stumbled with $2.6 million. Even Wes Anderson’s \u201cIsle of Dogs,\u201d playing in only 165 locations, beat \u201cGod’s Not Dead 3\u201d with $2.8 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cPacific Rim Uprising\u201d rounded out the top five with $9.2 million, down 67 per cent from last weekend’s No. 1 opening.<\/p>\n

The year is still down nearly 4 per cent, too, but there are some superheroes on the horizon.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cavalry is on the way in ‘Avengers: Infinity War,\u201d’ Dergarabedian said.<\/p>\n

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.<\/p>\n

1.\u201dReady Player One,\u201d $41.2 million ($128 million international).<\/p>\n

2.\u201dTyler Perry’s Acrimony,\u201d $17.1 million.<\/p>\n

3.\u201dBlack Panther,\u201d $11.3 million ($7.7 million international).<\/p>\n

4.\u201dI Can Only Imagine,\u201d $10.8 million ($200,000 international).<\/p>\n

5.\u201dPacific Rim Uprising,\u201d $9.2 million ($31.4 million international).<\/p>\n

6.\u201dSherlock Gnomes,\u201d $7 million ($2.5 million international).<\/p>\n

7.\u201dLove, Simon,\u201d $4.8 million ($1.6 million international).<\/p>\n

8.\u201dTomb Raider,\u201d $4.7 million ($12 million international).<\/p>\n

9.\u201dA Wrinkle in Time,\u201d $4.7 million ($4.8 million international).<\/p>\n

10.\u201dPaul, Apostle of Christ,\u201d $3.5 million.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theatres (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \u201cReady Player One,\u201d $128 million.<\/li>\n
  2. \u201cPeter Rabbit,\u201d $32.1 million.<\/li>\n
  3. \u201cPacific Rim Uprising,\u201d $31.4 million.<\/li>\n
  4. \u201cBaaghi 2,\u201d $15.2 million.<\/li>\n
  5. \u201cTomb Raider,\u201d $12 million.<\/li>\n
  6. \u201cGonjiam: Haunted Asylum,\u201d $8.5 million.<\/li>\n
  7. \u201cBlack Panther,\u201d $7.7 million.<\/li>\n
  8. \u201cNothing to Lose (Part 1),\u201d $7.1 million.<\/li>\n
  9. \u201cRed Sparrow,\u201d and \u201cBlockers,\u201d $5 million.<\/li>\n
  10. \u201cA Wrinkle in Time,\u201d $4.8 million.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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