Jackman’s claws carve out US$85m debut
NEW YORK (AP): THE R-RATED X-Men spin-off Logan slashed into the weekend box office, opening with a massive US$85.3 million in North American cinemas, according to studio estimates yesterday, while Oscars best-picture winner Moonlight got a significant, if far from superhero-sized, bump.
Jackman has said it will be his final performance as Wolverine, whose claws he has worn for 17 years. Logan, made for about US$100 million, also sold US$152.5 million in tickets overseas.
Last week’s top film, Jordan Peele’s horror sensation Get Out slid just 22 per cent — a small drop for any movie, but particularly in the horror genre. Moonlight had its widest release yet, appearing on 1,564 screens. It turned in its biggest weekend, too, with an estimated US$2.5 million. That accounts for roughly 10 per cent of the movie’s total domestic haul of US$25.3 million.
Moonlight as made for just US$1.5 million.
Though it memorably did not win best picture, Lionsgate’s La La Land is closing in on US$400 million globally, after adding another US$11 million internationally
and US$3 million domestically. Lionsgate’s The Shack opened in North American theatres over the weekend and came in third with US$16.1 million.
Following are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through yesterday at US and Canadian cinemas, according to comScore.
1. Logan, US$85.3m
2. Get Out, US$26.1m 3. The Shack, US$16.1m 4. The LEGO Batman Movie, US$11.7m 5. Before I Fall, US$4.9m. 6. John Wick: Chapter Two, US$4.7m 7. Hidden Figures, US$3.8m 8. The Great Wall, US$3.5m 9. Fifty Shades Darker, US$3.5m
10. La La Land, US$3m