‘Boo 2!’ wakes up box office on flat weekend
WASHINGTON: It was a dismal weekend for North American cinemas – but Liongates’ ‘ Boo 2! A Madea Halloween’ managed to scare some life back into the box office, bagging the top spot, according to industry estimates Sunday.
Starring Tyler Perry – who also wrote, directed and produced the comedy horror sequel – ‘ Boo 2!’ sees Madea ( Perry) and the gang head to a haunted campground, only to then have to escape monsters lurking there. With takings of US$ 21.7 million, ‘ Boo 2!’ is the tenth Perry title to snatch the top spot on its opening weekend, Deadline reports.
‘Geostorm’ – another new release – took second place, but it was a disappointing opening for Warner Bros’ latest offering, with earnings of US$ 13.3 million.
The sci- fi disaster thriller follows Gerard Butler as a satellite designer tasked with saving the world from an apocalyptic storm – caused by climate controlling satellites attacking the planet.
Meanwhile, ‘Happy Death Day’ dropped to third place from last week’s top spot – with takings plummeting from US$ 26 million to US$ 9.3 million.
Starring Jessica Rothe, the comedy horror slasher follows a college student who repeatedly relives the day she was murdered until she discovers who killed her.
Sitting in fourth was Warner Bros’ “Blade Runner: 2049”, which halved its earnings for the second weekend running, taking US$ 7.1 million.
The sci-fi reboot features Ryan Gosling as a new Los Angeles Police Department “blade runner” charged with killing bioengineered androids known as “replicants.”
After uncovering a secret that threatens society, he embarks on a search for Harrison Ford’s character, a former blade runner who disappeared 30 years ago.
In at fifth was Sony’s new release ‘Only The Brave’, starring Josh Brolin, with earnings of US$ 6 million.
Based on a true story, the drama tells the tale of the Granite Mountain Hotshots – a group of firefighters in Arizona – who battle to protect a town from an historic wildfire. Rounding out the top 10 were: • ‘ The Foreigner’ ( US$ 5.4 million) ‘It’ ( US$ 3.5 million) ‘ The Snowman’ million) ‘American million) ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ ( US$ 3 million) — AFP • • • • Made’ ( US$ 3.4 ( US$ 3.1