Top 5 Breakdown

1. Stan and Ollie – £2,578,838   –  NE      

Includes £162,061 from Sunday previews; opened in 654 screens

508^th biggest opening weekend in the UK between Nanny McPhee & the Big Bang and American Gangster (close to Pride and Prejudice, The Pursuit of Happyness and 12 Years a Slave) and 735^th biggest inflation inflated opening between Limitless and Olympus Has Fallen (close to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Billy Elliot, Into the Woods and Slumdog Millionaire)

14^th biggest eOne opening between Insidious 2 and 12 Years a Slave (close to Arrival and Molly’s Game) and 19^th biggest inflation inflated opening between 12 Years a Slave and The Woman In Black: Angel of Death.

Received its world premiere at the London Film Festival in October receiving positive reviews (91% Rotten Tomatoes) with many describing it as a small sweet film.

The Artist opened in the West End with £48,445 in December 2011 expanded into 106 screens in its second weekend taking £629,495; it slowly expanded to 320 screens after 10 weeks on release taking £9,296,740

Philomena opened in November 2013 with £1,509,726 taking £11.5m5

Chaplin opened in 147 cinemas in January 1993 £334,466 after showing exclusively at Odeon Leicester Square for 4 weeks taking £161,000 over 4 weeks; average ticket price in 1993 104,195 admissions was £3.21 140% less would be the equivalent of £800k today.

Stan & Ollie is sandwiched between much higher profile award contenders The Favourite and Mary Queen of Scots received three BAFTA nominations including Best British Film and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Steve Coogan.

Over recent years the opening film of the London Film Festival has performed much better at the UK box office than the closing film, but last year’s closing film Stan and Ollie opened with £2.57m compared with Widows £2.4m and will likely have longer legs taking more than £6.27m.

In 2017 Battle Of The Sexes took far less than Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

In 2016 A United Kingdom and Free Fire both under permed

In 2015 Steve Jobs took far less than opener Suffragette

In 2014 Fury opened strong but The Imitation Game still performed stronger

As was the case in 2012 and 2013 with Frankenweenie 3D and Great Expectations; Captain Phillips and Saving Mr. Banks

The last time the closing film performed much stronger than the opening film was 2010 with 127 Hours and Never Let Me Go.

Over recent yearly the London Film Festival doesn’t generate as much media coverage as it used to and is overshadowed by Venice and Toronto Film Festivals which normal have world premieres ahead of London, Stan and Ollie was the exception.

Premiering Stan and Ollie in October is an extra expense for a distributor as they need to bring over talent twice once for the premiere and then two months later Steve Coogan and John C Reilly both came back to promote the film a second time.

2. The Favourite – £2,387,037   – £8,302,694

Down 39.9% in its second weekend but removing the £1,775,372 taken from 9 days of previews increased its box office by 8.6%; added 79 screens (from 538 to 617)

282^nd biggest second weekend between Ready Player One and Aquaman (close to Cast Away, The Bodyguard, The Greatest Showman and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and 424^th biggest second weekend inflation inflated between Due Date  and Collateral (close to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Imitation Game and The Passion of the Christ)

110^th biggest 20^th Century Fox film between Horton Hears a Who and Dr. Dolittle 2 (close to Fantastic Mr. Fox, 127 Hours and Bridge of Spies) and 139^th biggest inflation inflated film between Penguins of Madagascar and Predator (close to Valkyrie, 28 Weeks Later and The Shape of Water)

The Favourite had one of the best second weekend holds for a recent award contender; The King’s Speech held stronger and took 83% more as it only had one day of previews taking £226,803 compared to The Favourite taking £1,775,372 from 9 days of previews.

While The King’s Speech had less competition with The Green Hornet opening with £1,878,905 targetting a completely different demographic while The Favourite had Stan and Ollie aimed at similar audience.

Other BAFTA/Oscar must see second weekend drops (not including previews)

2018’s Darkest Hour down 18%; Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri down 25%; The Shape of Water down 42%; Lady Bird down 2%; I, Tonya down 35%

2017’s La La Land down 23%; Manchester by the Sea down 16%; Lion down 13%

2016’s The Revenant down 26%; Room down 4%; The Big Short down 26%; Spotlight up 57%

2015’s The Theory of Everything down 16%; Birdman down 28%; Into the Woods down 19%; American Sniper down 0%; Whiplash 30%

2014’s American Hustle down 18%; 12 Years a Slave up 24%; The Wolf of Wall Street down 22%

2013’s Les Miserables down 46%; Lincoln down 17%; Zero Dark Thirty down 38%; Life of Pi up 48%

2012’s  The Artist up 1199% (wide expansion); The Iron Lady down 31%; War Horse down 19%; Shame down 31%

2011’s The King’s Speech up 32%; 127 Hours down 19%; Black Swan 6%; The Fighter down 40%

Hard to compare The Favourite with other must-see BAFTA contenders due to it have much more extensive previews, the other films had two or three days of previews at most with The Artist opening exclusively I Leicester Square for a week.

Award contenders used to have platform releases in the UK as the often still do in the US but are now a rarity, in the US The Favourite opened in 4 cinemas and then expanded to 810 screens (its widest point so far) after 6 weeks, while The Favourite opened in over 500 screens.

Opening an art-house film in 500+ screens even with the media coverage The Favourite has generated always surprises me as probably would have opened as strong opening in fewer screens. There seems to be a need for films to open as wide as possible unknown if that is a requirement from distributors or exhibitors, but distributors would be far more selective with the size of film releases when they were 35mm prints.

Films used to open in one Leicester Square cinema but now films like Mary Poppins Returns and Stan and Ollie are playing in all three cinemas Odeon Leicester Square, Vue West End and Cineworld Leicester Square which has meant films like The Favourite are pushed into smaller screens.

Second weekends

Frances McDormand won last year for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri took £1,621,878 #6 down 31% and £5,232,135 taking £15,238,741

Emma Stone won in 2017 for La La Land opened with £6,596,256 (£943,672 previews) taking £29,816,588

With The Favourite opening similar to last year’s British Oscar must see film Darkest Hour shows that the extended opening didn’t boost the films box office but as with most extended opening weekends shared its box office over 12 days rather than three.

Every year is a must-see Oscar award film opening early in January that starts its pre-release campaign premiering at either the Venice or Toronto Film Festival in August/September and then London Film Festival in October, The Favourite received its world premiere in August with critical acclaim and over the months since has generated strong buzz ahead of its UK release. In the US had a platform release starting strongly in four screens but as so many other Oscar contenders expanded much too quickly and lost some of its momentum.

After The Favourite won Golden Globe for Olivia Coleman on Sunday should be able to build on that again and then on to Oscar nominations in two weeks’ time, but as with Darkest Hour last year The Favourite will likely just win acting awards with Best Film and Director going to A Star is Born and Roma.

The Favourite was in development for 20 years but as with Three Billboards also produced by Film4 had Fox Searchlight not come in in May 2017 would the film be getting the same media coverage and award recognition both films have done?  While Disney say they won’t’ change Fox Searchlight films like The Favourite and Three Billboards don’t really fit into Disney future apart from them wanting to win Oscars.

January/February is much lighter with Oscar contenders this year than last year BlackkKlansman, A Star Is Born, McQueen, You Were Never Really Here, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Wife,  Widows, First Man and Cold War have all been released and Roma on Netflix.

Remaining Oscar/BAFTA contenders Green Book, Stan & Ollie, Vice, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Beautiful Boy and Mary Queen of Scots aren’t likely to perform as strongly as last years Darkest Hour (£24.1m), The Shape of Water (£7.5m), Lady Bird (£5.3m), Phantom Thread £2.7m), The Post (£9.1m) and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (£15.3m).

3. Mary Poppins Returns – £2,256,418 –£38,242,693

Down 49.2% in its fourth weekend

69^th biggest film in the UK between The Simpsons and Shrek The  Third (overtaking Paddington, Love Actually and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason) and 98^th biggest inflation inflated film between The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Deadpool.

21^st biggest Disney film in the UK between Inside Out and Monsters, Inc. and 32^nd biggest inflation inflated Disney film between Bruce Almighty and Captain America: Civil War (close to The Sixth Sense, Calendar Girls and High School Musical 3)

Ahead of Mary Poppins Returns opening box office experts were predicting it to hold similar to The Greatest Showman, but was unlikely as while critics called Mary Poppins Returns “practically perfect in everyway” as they did Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again cinemagoers had a much more mixed opinion of the film. In comparison critics called The Greatest Showman and Bohemian Rhapsody as fake but cinemagoers enjoyed them much more, seeing them again and again.

By next weekend will become the 65^th film to take £40m+ at the UK box office; currently the 8th biggest 2018 film after Avengers Infinity War, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, Incredibles 2, Black Panther, Bohemian Rhapsody, Peter Rabbit, Jurassic World 2

Fourth weekends

#2 Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! dropped 14% taking £3,568,169 and £48,311,304 73.7% of £65.51m

#3 Bohemian Rhapsody dropped 34% taking £3,021,648 and £34,854,038 64.5% of £54m total (tbc)

#2 Bridget Jones’s Baby dropped 38% taking £2,997,832 and £37,866,152 78.6% of £48.15m

#4 The Greatest Showman dropped 1.8% taking £2,103,605 and £16,865,309 34.9% of £48.3m total

Mary Poppins Returns left empty handed at the Golden Globes on Sunday with A Star Is Born winning Best Song (Shallow) it received three BAFTA nominations today all small categories and after being an Oscar favourite is unlikely to be nominated in major categories unlike the original film.

A few weeks ago most people would have expected Mary Poppins Returns to receive many BAFTA nominations especially being British and receiving critical acclaim but instead only received three nominations all in small categories while Bohemian Rhapsody received 7 including Best British Film.

Ahead of release while Mary Poppins Returns felt like another Disney memberries film still thought while it might not be as successful as original in the US, UK audiences will fall for it as they did earlier in the year for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again with it becoming one of the biggest films of the year but now it won’t take £25m in 2018.

Similar fourth weekends

#1 Les Miserables dropped 31% in January 2013 with taking £2,785,143 and £30,137,493 73.8% of £40,818,299

#2 The Jungle Book dropped 63% in April 2016 taking £2,139,629 and £36,835,516 79.6% of £46,235,032

#2 Alice In Wonderland dropped 48% taking £2,496,673 and £34,817,788 81.7% of £42,588,048

#1 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory dropped 41% taking £1,691,431 (£2,821,563 inflation inflated) and £30,091,611 (£50,197,364) 80.6% of £37,296,621 (£60,735,686 inflation inflated)

#1 Love Actually dropped 29% £2,273,706 (£3,835,599 inflation inflated) and £25,166,894 (£42,454,963 inflation inflated) 69.8% £36,026,147 (£60,773,838 inflation inflated)

#1 Slumdog Millionaire dropped 16% £2,359,854 (£3,249,137 inflation inflated) and £14,216,466 (£19,573,774 inflation inflated) 44.8% £31,664,346 (£43,596,682 inflation inflated)

The Greatest Showman soundtrack had its 26th non-consecutive week at #1 last weekend having been in the top 5 for the past year but Mary Poppins Returns soundtrack has yet to enter in the album chart despite rave reviews from critics about the songs.

4. Aquaman – £1,236,887   –  £20,248,936     

Down 33.3% in its fifth weekend   

38^th biggest Warner Bros film between Scooby-Doo and Clash of the Titans (close to Wonder Woman, I am Legend and Batman Forever) and 57^th biggest inflation inflated Warner Bros film between Interview with the Vampire and Ocean’s Thirteen (close to Batman Begins, Superman Returns and Ocean’s Thirteen)

33^rd biggest comic-book movie between X-Men 2 and Batman Forever and 45^th biggest inflation inflated comic-book movie between Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Fantastic Four.

DC Extended Universe Fifth weekends

#7 Man of Steel £278,607 and £29,190,336 98.1% of £29,764,997

#6 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice £463,746 and £36,179,431 99.1% of £36,495,828

#5 Suicide Squad £784,618 and £32,460,925 97.8% of £33,191,023

#5 Wonder Woman £911,311 and £20,731,916 93.4% of £22,183,744

#5 Justice League £222,699 and £17,214,315 98.8% of £17,420,228

Down only 24.12% in its fourth weekend; having the lowest fourth weekend drop of all DC Extended Universe film and Marvel Cinematic Universe and even Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy. Does show Mary Poppins Returns should be holding much better in its third weekend than is.

Aquaman took similar fourth weekend box office of Wonder Woman £1,868,607 and £16,297,127 but less than 2008’s The Dark Knight took £2,302,866 and £40,153,039 of £48,879,577.

Has overtaken last year’s Justice League and should also overtake Wonder Woman but will come short of matching the box office of Man of Steel, Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad all received far inferior reviews and word of mouth

Aquaman is Warner Bros third biggest film of 2018 after A Star Is Born and Fantastic Beasts 2.

The six DC Extended Universe films have now taken almost £160m at the UK; previous five DC films that included Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy took £142m and the previous four Batman films took £56m; 15 DC films since Batman in 1989 have taken over £350m.

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5. Bumblebee – £1,014,828   – £10,708,890

Down 41.5% in its third weekend

Will shortly overtake the total box office for 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight but ill unlikely get close to any of the other Transformers films is very disappointing as it received far better reviews and stronger word of mouth than any of the other Transformer films.

Despite Bumblebee targetting a much younger audience than the previous Transformer films more The Iron Giant and Real Steal opening so close to both Aquaman and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse was always likely to see all three films cannibalizing each other. While Bumblebee weekend previews over the opening weekend of Aquaman and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse probably did more damage than good.

Opening so close to Aquaman and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse the three films were always likely to cannibalize each other as they were all targetting similar audiences. Last year Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Pitch Perfect 3 and The Greatest Showman targeted a much wider demographic which saw all of them perform strongly.

Third weekends

2007’s Transformers down 40.7% £1.38m and £18.01m 78.7% of £22.86m

2009’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen down 49.3% £2.21m of £20.78m 78.3% of £26.53m

2011’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon down 58.1% £1.99m and £23.95m 85.9% of £27.,86m

2014’s Transformers: Age of Extinction down 55.3% £0.8m and £17.37m 91.1% of £19.07m

2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight down 72.5% £0.44m and £8.96m 94.4% of £9.49m

As Bumblebee Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Transformers: Age of Extinction both had extensive previews inflated their opening with £4,226,736 and £8,044,230

The six Transformers films have taken over £115m at the UK box office

Paramount Pictures have a far fewer properties than their rivals after the positive buzz surrounding Bumblebee was expected that it could revitalise the franchise after Transformers: The Last Knight took half of the previous film in 2017. Bumblebee has taken only $290.6m worldwide to date and will likely be the worst performing film of the six-film franchise.

UK box office in detail

This weekend’s top 10 box office took £13,204,230  down 23.1% from last weekend £17,185,874        

The weekend admissions 1,762,915 17.2% from last weekend 2,129,425 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

12 films opened at weekend taking £4,799,919); Stan and Ollie 53.7% (£2,578,838); Colette 16.4% (£788,432); The Upside 14.2% (£681,422); remaining 9 films shared 15.6% (£75,12275j): Top three took 54.7% (£7,222,293) of the top 10; Stan and Ollie (£2,578,838) 19.5%; The Favourite (£2,387,037) 18.1%; Mary Poppins Returns 17.1% (£2,256,418);

The weekend was down 21.7% from 2018: (£16,859,941); Darkest Hour (£4,058,356); Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (£2,361,782); Insidious: The Last Key (£1,840,992); Eric Clapton: A Life in 12 Bars (£183,051); #1 Darkest Hour (£4,058,356) 1st week

Down 5.9% from 2017: (£14,046,174); La La Land (£6,596,256); Manchester by the Sea (£729,478); Live by Night (£698,218); Underworld: Blood Wars (£349,301); Sherlock: The Final Problem (£322,253); #1 La La Land (£6,596,256) 1^st week

Down 12.8% from 2016: (£15,145,367; The Hateful Eight (£2,778,633); A War (£17,356); #1 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (£6,001,948) 4^th week

Down 26.7% from 2015; (£18,016,196); Taken 3 (£6,714,530); Into the Woods (£2,476,409); Foxcatcher (£877,408); #1 Taken 3 (£6,714,530); 1^st week

Up 2% from 2014: (£12,936,654); 12 Years a Slave (£2,511,349); The Railway Man (£1,230,483); Delivery Man (£1,102,433); #1 12 Years a Slave (£2,511,349) 1^st week

Down 33.8% from 2013: (£19,963,299); Les Miserables (£8,127,991); Gangster Squad (£2,090,614); Texas Chainsaw 3D (£1,247,735); #1 Les Miserables (£8,127,991) 1^st week

Up 4.9% from 2012 (£12,582,954); War Horse (£3,944,746) The Darkest Hour (£740,773); Shame (£535,288); Margin Call (£131,982); #1 War Horse (£3,944,746) 1^st week

Up 5.4% from 2011 (£12,522,775); The Green Hornet (£1,878,905); Conviction (£279,016); Blue Valentine (£176,411); Henry’s Crime (£64,508); #1 The King’s Speech (£4,401,926) 2^nd week

Up 6.1% from 2010: (£12,452,981); Daybreakers (£1,344,588); It’s Complicated (£1,098,659); The Road (£627,147); Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (£173,831); #1 Avatar (£4,770,980) 4^th week

Up 11.2% from 2009; (£11,864,462); Role Models (£2,330,145); Slumdog Millionaire (£1,827,457); Bride Wars (£1,717,894); Defiance (£1,198,425); Sex Drive (£506,573); #1 Role Models (£2,330,145) 1^st week   

Up 37.2% from 2008; (£9,618,777); Charlie Wilson’s War (£1,332,932); Dan in Real Life (£603,860); Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (£118,510); #1 I Am Legend (£2,051,372) 3^rd week

Up 26.6% from 2007:(£10,426,402); The Pursuit of Happyness (£2,527,181); Smokin’ Aces (£1,023,862); The Last King of Scotland (£861,991); #1 The Pursuit of Happyness (£2,527,181) 1^st week

Up 28.6% from 2006; (£10,263,408); Jarhead (£1,927,987); Memoirs of a Geisha (£1,147,056); Breakfast on Pluto (£199,154); Cry Wolf (£196,093); #1 Jarhead (£1,927,987) 1^st week

Up 47.8% from 2005 (£8,932,279); Closer (£1,568,526); Team America: World Police (£1,526,329); Million Dollar Baby (£803,899); Vanity Fair (£204,693); #1 Closer (£1,568,526) 1^st week

Up 15.1% from 2004 (£11,474,178); The Last Samurai (£2,723,081); Lost in Translation (£797,071); #1 Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (£3,713,999) 4^th week

Up 25.6% from 2003 (£10,505,144); Gangs of New York (£2,622,748); The Tuxedo (£1,080,504); The Good Girl (£114,235); City By The Sea (£77,936); #1 Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (£3,728,876) 4^th week

Up 47.3% from 2002 (£8,962,263); Rat Race (£1,004,783); Domestic Disturbance (£402,837); Rock Star (£294,973); Soul Survivors (£200,178); Last Orders (£100,560) #1 Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (£4,371,354) (4^th week)

Next weekend in 2018: (£20,087,765); Coco (£5,209,214); The Post (£2,152,977); The Commuter (£1,602,680); Romeo and Juliet – Bolshoi 2018 (£181,834); #1 Coco (£5,209,214) 1^st week

Also released

• Collette – Lionsgate

Opened with £788,432 (including £226,667 previews) from 322 screens

Had world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival where Lionsgate acquire UK rights; opened in  the US in September receiving positive reviews ad received its UK premiere at the London Film Festival in October.

• The Upside – STX International

Opened with £681,422 from 312 screens

• The Front Runner – Sony Pictures

Opened with £88,000 (including £23,000 from previews) from 142 screens

Had Jason Reitman’s second lowest opening after

2013’s Men Women and Children received poor reviews opened with only £73,182 from 211 screens

A log way from

2007’s Juno opened in February 2008 with £2,002,120 taking £9,240,584 winning Best original screenplay Oscar.

2009’s Up in the Air (with a breakthrough performance by Anna Kendrick was also nominated for Oscars and received critical acclaim. Opened January 2010 with £1,298,023 taking £5,580,729

More recently

2018’s Tully received mixed reviews opened with £138,674 from 200 screens

2014’s Labor Day received poor reviews opened with £278,726 from 319 screens

2012’s Young Adult received positive reviews opened with £137,736 from 157 screens

Other Box Office News

• Bohemian Rhapsody = 20^th Century Fox

Took £1,012,782 in its 12^th weekend taking £49,958,709 up 39.6% only £2,047 separated it from claiming fifth spot ahead of Bumblebee.

Added 136 screens from 368 screens last weekend to 504 this weekend with many having sing0-along screenings; The Greatest Showman was playing in a similar number of screens in its 12^th weekend in March playing in 514 screens taking 4.6% more.

On Monday became the 34^th film to take over £50m at the UK box office and 20^th Century Fox’s fifth after Avatar, Titanic, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and The Full Monty; later this week will overtake Black Panther to become the fourth biggest 2018 release

Has become the 34^th biggest film in the UK between Black Panther and Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix and the 67^th biggest inflation inflated between Avengers Age of Ultron and Spider-Man 3.

The Greatest Showman took £1,059,983 down 33% in its 12^th weekend #4 behind Black Panther taking £38.9m 80.5% of £48.3m total; if Bohemian Rhapsody holds similarly could take £60m+. would be the 17^th biggest film in the UK.

20^th Century Fox’s success with  Bohemian Rhapsody comes almost a year after The Greatest Showman which was similar to Titanic following the success of The Full Monty in 1997

Aquaman is a one-time viewing film as most films are today while Bohemian Rhapsody as The Greatest Showman was last year are multiple viewing films and are a rarity in cinema today. Why Mamma Mia 2 and Mary Poppins Returns were never going to be the massive hits most people thought they were going to be. While critics called The Greatest Showman and Bohemian Rhapsody fake that is what cinemagoers felt Mamma Mia 2 and Mary Poppins Return were why they didn’t have similar legs.

What made Bohemian Rhapsody a massive success worldwide was it played to the same audience as The Greatest Showman and more. “We’re four misfits who don’t below together, playing for other misfits and the outcasts right in the back of the room, who are pretty sure they don’t belong either… we belong to them.”

 UK 2018 review

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In 1998 326 films were released and many complained that was too many last year almost three times the amount of films and alternative cinema was release (over 900) with over 90% of the box office coming from 100 films.

Almost every week there are over a dozen films released with two or three taking the majority of the box office, if the number of films were reduced would allow smaller films that often get pulled before they can fid an audience to hold screens as exhibitors wouldn’t be so eager rush for the next batch of releases.

Much was made about Netflix acquiring Roma and their theatrical releasing plans for the film, major exhibitors refused Netflix’s plans to have a small theatrical release before being released on the steaming service, but they demanded the film stick to the theatrical window. Had an independent distributor acquired Roma would of major exhibitors even considered it being a black and white film in Spanish language with no stars, as few foreign language films get a wide theatrical release.

With the exception of The Greatest Showman and Bohemian Rhapsody probably only Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again was still playing in over 500 screens after 8 weeks, so the 17-week theatrical window doesn’t work anymore. Always thought a flexible theatrical window would be far more suitable so films like The Greatest Showman and Bohemian Rhapsody would have their theatrical windows extended, while for films like First Man and The Nutcracker and the Four Realms it would be reduced to less than 6 weeks.

Top 10 films took £470m = 36.8% of total box office of 2018 – 2017 took £447.77m = 34.25%

Top 20 films took £689.5m = 53.9% of total box office of 2018 – 2017 took £700.78m = 53.96%

Top 100 films took £1.151bn = 90.1% of total box office of 2018 – 2017 took £1.191bn = 90.83%

 

UK Box Office Top 10

US Box office

• The Upside – STX International

Opened with $20.35m; received poor reviews 40% Rotten Tomatoes score but received an A CinemaScore

Has become STX’s second best opening of all-time after July 2016’s Bad Moms with $23.8m and their first #1 film

Was expected to open with $10-$14m with Aquaman expected to hold #1 for a fourth weekend

Took $1.1m from Thursday previews similar to Kevin Hart’s Wedding Ringer took ($800K), b milked from his Wedding Ringer took $6.9m on its first Friday (including previews) and a $20.64m weekend; close also to $1.35m Thursday previews for Night School opening with $27.25m

The English-language remake of the French 2011 film The Intouchables was first announced in July 2011 with many actors rumoured to star including Chris Rock, Idris Elba, Colin Firth and Jessica Chastain and attached to many directors including Paul Feig and Simon Curtis, attached to direct.

Kevin Hart signed in October 2014, Bryan Cranston in March 2016 and started shooting in January 2017; premiered at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival and was originally set for March 2018 to be distributed by The Weinstein Company its released was after Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations. In November 2017 The Weinstein Company sold off rights to its upcoming films including Paddington 2 US rights to Warner Bros and in August 2018 STX Entertainment acquired US and UK rights to The Upside.

The Upside has a similar plot to Green Book which is also playing stronger to audiences than critics.

Kevin Hart was becoming a global star after starring in Ride Along, Central Intelligence, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Night School and in December was signed to be the host for next year’s Oscars. But was forced to quit after backlash to homophobic tweets he made many years earlier, will this affect his acting career, Sony will surely be looking to see if it does as he is due to star in Jumanji sequel set for released in December 2019.

Opened with $1.3m from 17 territories (majority from UK)

• Aquaman – Warner Bros

Down 44% in its fourth weekend taking $17.35m and $287.94m  

Aquaman will shortly overtake Man of Steel ($291.04m)

4^th weekends;

Suicide Squad took $12.24m and $283.02m of $325.1m

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice took $9,02m and $311.3m of $330.1m

Aquaman should overtake those two to be the second biggest DC Extended Universe film in the US after Wonder Woman which took $24.9m and 4318.1m in its fourth weekend of $412.56m

Aquaman is Warner Bros 17^th biggest film in the US between Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and The Matrix Reloaded

Aquaman has become will be the ninth comic-book to take over $1bn globally have been six Marvel (Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel’s The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Panther, Iron Man 3, Captain America: Civil War) and three DC (The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises and Aquaman).

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 $1.87bn in the US and $4.78bn worldwide

Took $27.9m internationally from 79 territories $732.4m total and $1.02bn worldwide; #36 biggest film worldwide between The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Dark Knight; top territories China $287.3m; South Korea $38.2m; Brazil $32m; Mexico $28.6m; UK $25.8m; France $24.1m;  Australia $23.5m; Germany $20.4m; Russia $18.9m; Indonesia $17.5m and opens in Japan in February.

Has taken the same in the US and China but rentals in China are less than half what they are in the US has helped inflate its box office to over $1bn as has previously happened for Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Transformers: Age of Extinction

• A Dog’s Way Home – Sony Pictures

Opened with $11.25m; received average reviews 60% Rotten Tomatoes score and A- CinemaScore

Plot is similar to 1963’s The Incredible Journey which as remade in 1993 Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey opened with $8.11m taking $41.82m and its sequel 1996’s Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco opened with $8.6m taking $32.77m.

Family dog films are often successful at the box office most recently 2017’s A Dog’s Purpose opened with $18.22m taking $64.5m the sequel A Dog’s Journey opens in May and will likely get confused with A Dog’s Way Home as both films are based on books by the same author.

• Escape Room – Sony Pictures

Dropped 51% in its second weekend taking $8.92m and $32.46m

Took $1.5m from 15 territories and $2.5m total

• Mary Poppins Returns – Disney

Down 51.8% in its fourth weekend taking $7.65m and $151.09m

Box office experts were predicting Mary Poppins Returns would have similar legs as The Greatest Showman, but it was never going to have similar legs as The Greatest Showman as it was a memberberries sequel

Mary Poppins Returns took 102% more than The Greatest Showman in week 2 but in week 4 that is dropped down to 56.8%

The Greatest Showman took $12.46m in its fourth weekend (42.1% more) and $98.93m 56.7% of $174.34m

Holding closer to 2012’s Les Misérables taking $7.49m in its fourth weekend and $130.05m 87.3% of $148.8m; 2014’s Into the Woods $6.77m and $114.52m 89.4% of $128m.; 2018’s Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again took $5.96m and $103.87m 86.1% of $120.64m; 2008’s Mamma Mia! $9.2m and $104.14m 72% of $144.1m.

Many see Mary Poppins Returns as the fifth biggest musical in the US overtaking La La Land, Les Miserables  and Mamma Mia! as a sign of the film’s success. In 1964 Mary Poppins took $102m and is currently the 27^th biggest film adjusted by inflation would be $690m today taking similar box office to Black Panther. Disney release their The Lion King reimagination this year the original animated film took $423m in 1994 which would be almost $800m today.

The original films Disney are reimagining were massive films when they first came out and they were wonderful films but these reimaginations don’t match up to them they are just memberries movies. While I might seem to be overly critical of Disney its only because if your going to remake a classic it needs to be better than the original, it can’t just be a remake as Star Wars: The Force Awakens was to A New Hope. 

Took $23m from 47 territories and $119.2m total (almost 40% from the UK) and $257.9m globally; #484 biggest film between The Bourne Supremacy and      Bridesmaids; top territories UK $48.5m; Italy $14.4m; France $10.4m; Germany $9.3m;

Mary Poppins Returns will likely take about $350m worldwide about $50m less than Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again ($394.7m) and almost $100m less than The Greatest Showman how can kit possibly be seen as a success? There were rumours Disney were developing a third film but its unlikely to happen if it can’t take $500m+ worldwide?

• Bumblebee – Paramount Pictures

Down 45.4% in its fourth weekend taking $7.2m and $108.9m

Last week became the leggiest Transformers film after being the best reviewed film of the series despite this might be the lowest grossing. After four weeks Bumblebee has taken less than all of the other films of the series being closest to Transformers: The Last Knight which took $2.84m and $124.9m in its fourth weekend dropping a similar 55%.

4^th weekend

2007’s Transformers $11.64m and $284.67m total $319.24m

2009’s Transformers: Age of Extinction $13.69m and $363.8m total $402.11m

2011’s   Transformers: Dark of the Moon $12.05m and $325.8m total $352.39m

2014’s Transformers: Age of Extinction $9.84m and $227.02m total $245.43m

2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight $2.84m and $124.95m total $130.16m

Opening Bumblebee against Aquaman and the week after Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse was always likely to see the three films cannibalize despite receiving far better reviews than Aquaman opening the weekend after was always playing catch-up.

Globally China’s box office will depend on if Bumblebee overtakes the box office of Transformers: The Last Knight $605.4m.

The seven Transformers films have taken $1.56bn In the US and $4.67bn worldwide.

Took $35.6m from 64 territories (including $105.7m from China) and $256.3m and $364.8m; #329  between The Nun and Notting Hill (currently lowest grossing worldwide Transformers: The Last Knight #146)  top international territories apart from China are UK $13.5m; Mexico $11m; France $8.5m; Germany $7.3m and opens in Japan on March 22.

• On the Basis of Sex- Focus Features

Up 277.2% adding 1,811 screens in its fourth weekend taking $6.07m and $10.4m  

Expanding after two weeks on limited release; the Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic reviewed mixed reviews was originally seen as a possible award contender but will likely be overshadowed by the Ruth Bader Ginsburg documentary RBG at the Oscars taking $13.01m

• Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse – Sony Pictures

Down 31.1% in its fifth weekend taking $9.05m and $147.82m  

Big Hero 6 dropped 57.3% in its fifth weekend taking $8.04m and $177.46m of $222.52m and $435.2m internationally and $657.81m worldwide #123 biggest between Justice League and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Despite rave reviews and positive buzz as Bumblebee will likely be the lowest grossing of the Spider-Man film series in the US and definitely globally; lowest grossing Spider-Man film is 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2 which took $2023.85m in the US and $709.m worldwide

The seven Spider-Man films have taken $2.06bn in the US and $5.14bn globally; Spider-Man: Far from Home opens in July and before the release of Into The Spider-Verse Sony Pictures had already announced sequel and spinoff plans that include an all-female spinoff. 

Sony Pictures released the first trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home on Tuesday which sees Peter Parker go on a European Vacation conrining the John Hughes feel of the first film

Took $9.4m from 65 territories and $154.6m total ($49.5m from China) and $302.4m worldwide #451 biggest between G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and Hook.

• If Beale Street Could Talk – Annapurna Pictures

Up 30.6% in its fifth weekend taking $2.4m adding 683 screens and $8.1m            

Barry Jenkin’s previous film 2016’s Moonlight expand into 474 screens in its fifth weekend taking $1.48m and $4.64m went on to take $27,854,932 winning Best Picture at Oscars in 2017.

Received critical acclaim ever since it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September receiving 94% Rotten Tomatoes score

• Green Book – Universal Pictures

Up 18.8% in its ninth weekend taking $2.14m adding 176 screens and $38.6m

Was the surprise winner at the Golden Globes last weekend winning three Golden Globe Awards on Sunday Best Picture Musical or Comedy, Best Screenplay and Best Actor Viggo Mortensen.

Critical reaction has been more mixed, but audience reaction has been much more positive.

Last week a 2015 tweet by producer Nick Vallelonga resurfaced (as they have also done for James Gunn and Kevin Hart) responding to a tweet by Donald Trump about 9/11 which saw him delete the tweet and his account.

• The Favourite – Fox Searchlight   

Dropping 259 screens in its eighth weekend down 41.8% taking $1.1m and $21.48m.

Despite Olivia Coleman winning Best Actress Golden Globe last weekend The Favourite lost a third of its screenings dropping 40% but that was similar to several Golden Globe winners last year:

As with Darkest Hour and I, Tonya last year The Favourite will likely get nominated for multiple Oscars next week (as it did last week for BAFTA nominations) but likely only win Best Actress and Supporting Actress.

Darkest Hour took $4.46m down 26.1% dropped 40 screens and $35.67m in its 8th weekend from 1693 screens

The Shape of Water took $2.83m down 9.7% dropping 81 screens and $26.55m in its 7th weekend from 723 screens

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri took $2.51m up 257.1% adding 712 screens and  $28.72m in its 10th weekend from 1022 screens

I, Tonya took $3.36m up 37.5% adding and $5.14m in its 261 screens in its 6^th weekend from 512 screens

Lady Bird took $1.78m up 12.5% adding 90 screens and $36.98m in its 11th weekend from 652 screens

Took $ 3m from 5 territories and $14.4m total

• Mary Queen of Scots – Focus Features

Losing 223 screens in its sixth weekend dropping  60.3% taking $852,645 and $15.22m total

After failing to win a Golden Globe awards last weekend and only receiving three BAFTA nominations last weekend Mary Queen of Scots will likely get few Oscar nominations when they are announced next week.

Focus Features had moved Mary Queen of Scots release date many times, so was surprising they choose to open it so close to The Favourite which had received critical acclaim and positive buzz ever since August with its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Mary Queen of Scots received its world premiere instead at the AFI Festival in November.

The two previous parts of the Elizabeth Extended Universe 1998’s Elizabeth was nominated for seven Oscars winning only Best Makeup had much better success with BAFTAs winning five. 2007’s Elizabeth: The Golden Age was nominated for two Oscars winning Costume Design and nominated for four BAFTAs not winning any, so the likelihood of Mary Queen of Scots even being nominated was unlikely and even more so opening so close to The Favourite.

The only possible reason I could possibly think of why Focus Features would open Mary Queen of Scots so close to The Favourite was confusion in the hope The Favourite might attract cinemagoers to Mary Queen of Scots.

Mary Queen of Scots could be seen as the third part of the Elizabeth Extended Universe both previous instalments didn’t perform that strongly in the US and without award success its unlikely

2007’s Elizabeth: The Golden Age took $16.38m and $74.23m worldwide

1998’s Elisabeth took $30.1m and $82.15 worldwide

Mary Queen of Scots received 60% Rotten Tomatoes score Vs 94jg% The Favourite.

• Stan & Ollie – Sony Classics

Down 2.5% in its third weekend (adding 5 screens) $85,167 and  $354,835             

The Artist opened in November 2011 with $204,878 from 4 screens taking $44,671,682

It was a very slow platform release by the Weinstein Company (repeated successfully several years later with Lion) taking 11 weeks to expand to 1,000 screens building on momentum from Golden Globe awards, BAFTA awards and Oscars.

Chaplin opened December 1992 with $84,669 from 5 screens taking $9,493,259 

• Bohemian Rhapsody – 20^th Century Fox

Took $3.2m in its 11^th week up 35.2% taking $198.48m; 13^th biggest film of 2018 between A Star is Born and Ralph Breaks the Internet; second biggest 20^th Century Fox film of 2018 and their 23^rd  biggest film ever between Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and will shortly become their 23^rd film and last to take over $200m at the US box office.

Weekend box office $15m from 40 territories $574.2m total

Has overtaken Star Wars: Episode I Phantom Menace $552m to 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.

$751.9m total globally; #94 biggest film between Shrek Forever After and X-Men: Days of Future Past; has now become the 17^th biggest original film ever globally.

Bohemian Rhapsody is 20^th Century Fox’s 10^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, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Independence Day, Deadpool and Star Wars (could overtake Deadpool and Star Wars in the coming weeks)

In Japan it was up 12% and back #1 taking $81.5m; South Korea $75.3m; (up 37%) with $64.8m; Australia $33.8m; France $35.2m; Italy $28.9m; Germany $28.3m; Spain up 45% 2018’s #1 title at $27.9m.

With Disney’s purchase of 20^th Century Fox likely to be completed in March leaves Bohemian Rhapsody incredible performance tinged with sadness as the 83-year-old studio will likely just become a label within the Disney empire (the modern-day Touchstone Pictures)

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

Took $7.7m from 7 territories and $15.2m total

Opened in Australia and New Zealand to coincide with Australia’s summer holidays opening in the UK February 1^st ahead of The Lego Movie Part 2: The Second Part for half-term on February 1^st and the US February 22^nd.

The two How to Train Your Dragon films have taken $1.12bn 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 20^th Century Fox.

UK Box Office Predictions

Was much hype and anticipation for Glass ahead of its release being sequel to M. Night Shyamalan’s 2000’s Unbreakable and 2016’s Split, but critical reaction has been mixed at best with many comparing it to the worst M. Night Shyamalan films After Earth and Lady in the Water.

Split opened January 2017 with £2,548,516 taking £11,018,069

Unbreakable opened December 2000 with £2,004,890 (£3,412,870 inflation inflated) taking £11,222,712 (inflation inflated £19,563,228)

The Sixth Sense opened November 1999 with £4,792,296 (£8,730,858 inflation inflated) taking £25,407,279 (£46,288,321 inflation inflated).

Despite receiving poor reviews cinemagoers haven’t taken much notice of critics recently and with award contenders crowding the marketplace and the Christmas films dropping off a £3m+ opening is likely.

Stan and Ollie will hold well in second taking £1.8m+

It’s the battle of the queens with The Favourite likely hold well in its third weekend taking £1.6m+ and Mary Queen of Scots likely to open close to the second part of the Elizabeth Extended Universe 2007’s Elizabeth: The Golden Age opened November 2007 with £1.34m taking £4.98m and The Duchess in 2008 opened with £1,402,200 taking £6,913,447.

With the arrival of Glass, Aquaman and Bumblebee will likely drop heavily, and Mary Poppins Returns will drop again; while Bohemian Rhapsody could have overtaken The Full Monty to become 20^th Century Fox’s fourth bigger film ever.

 

Opening in UK Next Week

• A Dog’s Way Home – Sony Pictures

Family drama starring Ashley Judd, Edward James Olmos, Alexandra Shipp, Wes Studi, Chris Bauer, Barry Watson and Jonah Hauer-King and directed by Charles Martin Smith based on book written by W. Bruce Cameron.

Plot about a dog who travelling 400 miles to get back to its owner is similar to 1963’s The Incredible Journey which as remade in 1993 Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey and its sequel 1996’s Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco.

Family dog films are often successful at the box office most recently 2017’s A Dog’s Purpose opened with £1,300,097 taking £2,840,210 and 2009’s Marley & Me opened with £4,414,169 taking £15,123,080

The sequel to A Dog’s Purpose,  A Dog’s Journey opens in May and will likely get confused with A Dog’s Way Home as both films are based on books by the same author.

• Destroyer – Lionsgate

Crime drama starring Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Tatiana Maslany, Scoot McNairy, Bradley Whitford, and Sebastian Stan and directed by Karyn Kusama.

Had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival receiving positive reviews 76% Rotten Tomatoes score with many calling Nicole Kidman’s performance the best in years and was nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Golden Globe.

• Second Act – STX

Romantic comedy starring Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa Hudgens, Leah Remini, Annaleigh Ashford, Dan Bucatinsky, Freddie Stroma, Milo Ventimiglia, Treat Williams and Larry Miller and directed by Peter Segal

Has similar pot to the Darren Star TV series Younger about a 40-year-old mother who gets a second chance after creating a fake CV and is also comparable to Working Girl which opened in March 1989 taking £3,167,270 and was the 19th biggest film of 1989; and $63.77m in the US and $102.95m worldwide.

As with Office Space 10 years later Working Girl is still a great film about office work culture, the  fashion and the technology might have changed but the office politics are still the same. When Tess is found out she’s only a secretary and is asked why she didn’t tell them in the board room she says “Well, no one was gonna listen, sir, not to me. I mean, you can bend the rules plenty, once you get upstairs, but not while you’re trying to get there. And if you’re someone like me, you can’t get there without bending the rules.”

Second Act was originally set for November release but pushed back to December in the US after positive test screenings (earlier this year STX similarly moved the release of I Feel Pretty after it tested strongly opened with £1.27m in May 2018 taking £5.38m; $46.79m in the US and $94.53m worldwide); has received mixed reviews.

20 years ago Jennifer Lopez starred in Out of Sight at the time her acting career was developing strongly but then came Gigli in 2003 was a massive failure but it took Jennifer Lopez much longer to have a comeback than her co-star Ben Affleck while its director Martin Brest hasn’t made a film since; in recent years she starred in TV series Shades of Blue and voicing several animated films alongside her music career her song Limitless features in the film.

• The Mule – Warner Bros

Crime drama starring Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Peña, Dianne Wiest, and Andy García produced and directed by Clint Eastwood based on The New York Times article “The Sinaloa Cartel’s 90-Year-Old Drug Mule” by Sam Dolnick.

In the US The Mule has taken $90.7m and could become his second biggest film he has acted and directed after 2008’s Grand Torino 4148.1m becoming his fifth film to take over $100m (2004’s Million Dollar Baby, 1993’s In the Line of Fire and 1992’s Unforgiven)

Its Clint Eastwood’s first acting project since 2012’s Trouble with the Curve (opened with £41,391) and first starring role in a film directed by him since 2008’s Gran Torino (£332,877 62 screens £1,351,278 wide taking £8,143,251)

Clint Eastwood’s last film The 15:17 to Paris opened in February 2018 with £290,577

Sully: Miracle on the Hudson opened December 2016 with £1,786,844 taking £7,386,195

American Sniper opened in January 2015 with £2,530,473 taking £13,424,242

• Vice -eOne

Biographical comedy-drama starring Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Tyler Perry, Alison Pill, and Jesse Plemons and written and directed by Adam McKay.

Received polarized reviews 63% Rotten Tomatoes score but Christian Bale and Amy Adams received critical acclaim with Christian Bale winning Best Actor Golden Globe and being nominated for six BAFTAs including Best Actor Christian Bale, Best Supporting Actress Amy Adams and Best Supporting Actor Sam Rockwell.

The Big Short opened #4 £1,302,205 taking £5,494,586

Opening in the US

• The Kid Who Would be King – 20^th Century Fox

Fantasy starring Louis Ashbourne Serkis (son of Andy Serkis), Tom Taylor, Rebecca Ferguson, and Patrick Stewart and written and directed by Joe Cornish; received positive  reviews 81% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Since directing Attack the Block in 2011 Joe Cornish was connected to direct many films including Star Trek Beyond but instead The Kid Who Would be King is his follow-up film.

Attack the Block opened in May 2011 with £1,133,859 #3 frim 352 screens against third weekend of Thor #1 £1,360,418 and Fast & Furious 5 #2 with £1,155,540; despite critical acclaim dropped 69% in its second weekend with £355,232 and £1,925,419 total £2,466,020.

Recent film adaptions of British legends King Arthur and Robin Hood failed to find an audience as they were to busy trying to create a franchise. Mortal Engines was described as a Brexit movie many have described The Kid Who Would be King also being a story about our divided era ahead of Brexit.

Children’s adventure films have become a lost genre in recent years replaced by comic-book movies but in the 80s and 90s were very popular with films like The Goonies, Explorers, Stand By Me, The Monster Squad, The Princess Bride, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Spy Kids, Jumanji (£2,103,403) and Small Soldiers. Percy Jackson, Stardust (£2,245,143), Night at the Museum, Super 8 (£2,207,063) and Harry Potter, The Hunger Games films modern equivalents.