‘Ralph’ wrecks box office again; ‘Aquaman’ is a hit

NEW YORK — In the calm before the Christmas storm at the box office, “Ralph Breaks the Internet” remained No. 1 for the third straight week, while the upcoming DC Comics superhero film “Aquaman” arrived with a splash in Chinese theaters.

For the second week in a row, no new wide releases opened in North American theaters, allowing Disney’s animated sequel to again lead domestic ticket sales with $16.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The top six films at the box office were all unchanged. Universal’s “The Grinch,” still a major draw in its fifth weekend, was second with $15.2 million.

In China, Warner Bros.’ “Aquaman” debuted with $93.6 million in ticket sales, a new opening-weekend record for both Warner Bros. and DC in China.

“Aquaman” will expand to 40 countries next week and arrive in North American theaters Dec. 21.

Paramount’s “Transformers” prequel “Bumblebee” played a one-night sneak preview in 326 theaters nationwide ahead of its Dec. 21 release. Paramount declined to share ticket figures but said theaters were mostly sold out.

Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns” is due out Dec. 19, helped by four Golden Globe nominations, including best picture, comedy or musical, and acting for Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The interracial road trip period tale “Green Book” got five Globes nominations, including best picture, comedy or musical, and acting nods for Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen. In its fourth week of release, “Green Book” held with a rare 0 percent drop, earning $3.9 million in 1,181 theaters. It has grossed $20 million in total.

Yorgos Lanthimos’ comic period drama “The Favourite” continued to pick up steam. The acclaimed Fox Searchlight release, starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, expanded into 91 theaters over the weekend to gross $1.4 million ($15,000 per theater).

A more traditional royal drama, “Mary Queen of Scots,” also opened strongly in limited release. The Focus Features title, starring Saoirse Ronan as Mary Stuart and Margot Robbie as Elizabeth I, debuted in four theaters with $50,045 per-theater average.

Also opening in limited release were “Ben Is Back,” the family addiction drama with Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges (a $20,243 per-theater average in four theaters), and the caustic pop music critique “Vox Lux,” with Natalie Portman (a $27,000 per-theater average in six theaters).

To commemorate its 25th anniversary, Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List,” was re-released in 1,029 theaters. But it failed to turn out large crowds, grossing only $551,000.

Next weekend, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” “Once Upon a Deadpool,” Clint Eastwood’s “The Mule” and “Mortal Engines” will be released.