Power of the Force runs strong over holidays
Santa and his reindeer have got nothing on Rey, Finn and Poe.
Moviegoers may have been immersed in holiday parties and preparations in the days leading up to Christmas, but they still filled theatres for some Jedi knight magic. As expected, Star Wars: The Last Jedi held the top spot at the box office over the weekend.
The eighth official episode in the Lucasfilm series grossed $100.7 million (U.S.) over the holiday weekend and a whopping $397.3 million through Christmas Day. Director Rian Johnson’s distinctive take on the sci-fi franchise has been equally lauded by critics and audiences alike.
Sony’s video game-inspired Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which opened Wednesday, held strong as well. The Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart- starring action-adventure reboot from director Jake Kasdan, about a group of teens in detention whose avatars set out to break a curse, grossed $50.4 million over the weekend.
Pitch Perfect 3, Universal’s a cappella comedy that’s the latest in the series about female friendship and vocal percussion, opened Friday, also proving to be a strong holiday contender, earning $25.6 million over the weekend.
The musical comedy, this time directed by Trish Sie, brings back together Anna Kendrick, Hailee Steinfeld, Rebel Wilson and Brittany Snow and others as the Barden Bellas, sending them on a USO tour to entertain American troops.
North American box-office figures over the holiday weekend: 1. Star Wars: The Last Jedi, $100.7 million (U.S.) 2. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, $50.4 million 3. Pitch Perfect 3, $25.6 million 4. The Greatest Showman, $14 million 5. Ferdinand, $9.7 million 6. Coco, $7.4 million 7. Downsizing, $7.4 million 8. Darkest Hour, $5.4 million 9. Father Figures, $4.9 million 10. The Shape of Water, $4.3 million Los Angeles Times