Bangkok Post

Thor tops Daddy’s Home 2, Orient Express at box office

- LINDSEY BAHR

The God of Thunder isn’t ready to relinquish his box office throne yet.

Studios estimated on Sunday that Thor: Ragnarok added US$56.6 million (1.8 billion baht) from North American cinemas in its second weekend, bringing its domestic total to $211.6 million.

The film, from Disney and Marvel and directed by Taika Waititi, out-grossed each of its two predecesso­rs domestical­ly in just two weeks, not accounting for inflation.

It easily beat out the comedy sequel Daddy’s Home 2 and the lavish Agatha Christie adaptation Murder On The Orient Express, even as both posted solid openings.

Paramount scored again with Daddy’s Home 2, which adds John Lithgow and Mel Gibson to the Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg formula. The film, which cost a reported $69 million to produce, took second place at the box office with $30 million. The first film from 2015 grossed $242.8 million worldwide on a similar budget.

Critics were not won over by the comedy, but audiences seemed pleased, giving the film an A- on CinemaScor­e.

The star-studded Murder On The Orient Express, meanwhile, screeched into third place with an estimated $28.2 million against a $55 million budget. Kenneth Branagh directs himself in the film, which also stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley and Judi Dench. In smaller releases, Greta Gerwig’s buzzy coming-of-age film Lady Bird, from distributo­r A24, also broke into the top 10 in its expansion to 37 cinemas, earning $1.2 million.

Another awards contender, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, starring Frances McDormand, opened to a strong limited release with $320,000 from just four cinemas.

 ??  ?? Taika Waititi.
Taika Waititi.

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