Jordan Peele scares, and scores, again with new film ‘Us’

LOS ANGELES: With his new film ‘Us’ blasting to an estimated US$ 70.3 million opening in North American theatres in one of the best launches ever for a horror film, director Jordan Peele has done it again.

Website BoxOfficeMojo called the film’s three- day ticket sales “mind-blowing.”

The Universal production, which stars Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Elisabeth Moss in the story of a family that encounters horrifying versions of themselves, had the secondbest launch of the year, trailing only blockbuster ‘Captain Marvel’, according to industry watcher Exhibitor Relations.

Peele had impressed Hollywood with his first production, ‘ Get Out’, another horror film with heavy social commentary that won an Oscar as Best Original Screenplay and was the 10th most profitable film of 2017. The new film has a 94 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, rare praise for a horror flick.

‘ Us’ pushed Disney’s ‘Captain Marvel’ down to second place, at US$ 35 million for the weekend, but that female-led blockbuster had little to complain about. With Brie Larson starring as a former fighter pilot with superpowers, the film has taken in a combined US$ 910 million at home and abroad.

In third spot was Paramount’s animation ‘ Wonder Park’, at US$ 9 million. The film, about an amusement park based on a young girl’s imaginings, is voiced by Brianna Denski, Jennifer Garner, Matthew Broderick and John Oliver.

Fourth spot went to CBS/ Lionsgate’s teen drama ‘Five Feet Apart’, at US$ 8.8 million. It stars Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse as teens who fall in love but must keep their distance while being treated for cystic fibrosis.

And in fifth was ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’, at US$ 6.5 million. It tells the story of young Hiccup and his dragon Toothless on a quest for a dragon utopia. Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera and Cate Blanchett provide the voices.

Rounding out the weekend’s top 10 were:

‘A Madea Family Funeral’ ( US$ 4.5 million) ‘Gloria Bell’ ( US$ 1.8 million) ‘No Manches Frida 2’ ( US$ 1.8 million)

‘ The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part’ ( US$ 1.1 million)

‘Alita: Battle Angel’ ( US$ 1 million) — AFP

In this over-the-top sequel to the smash hit 'No Manches Frida', the all-star cast of the original and some fresh new faces leave the school yard and hit the beach in 'No Manches Frida 2', which takes the 8th spot.

John Turturro and Julianne Moore in ‘Gloria Bell', at 7th spot.