TOP 12 FILMS AT THE BOX OFFICE
The audience has spoken, Sacha Baron Cohen: It’s over.
Heralded as a comedic superstar after his raunchy “Borat” became a surprise smash hit in 2006, Cohen has since delivered rapidly shrinking openingweekend results, as his core young fan base has grown up and moved on. “Bruno” took in $30.6 million in 2009. “The Dictator” collected $17.4 million in 2012. And over the weekend, “The Brothers Grimsby” sold just $3.3 million in tickets — complete rejection.
“Grimsby” cost Sony Pictures about $37 million to make. The film, which has gags about celebrities contracting AIDS and men hiding in an elephant’s vagina, adds to a difficult period for Sony, which last year ousted its movie chief. “Grimsby” was one of the last movies left from the old regime.
“We are disappointed, of course, especially because Sacha worked tirelessly to promote what we think is a very funny movie,” said Rory Bruer, Sony’s president of domestic distribution.
The No. 1 movie at the North American box office was “Zootopia,” a Disney film that, coincidentally, had a writing team that included Phil Johnston, who co-wrote the R-rated “Grimsby.” The animated “Zootopia” took in about $51.3 million, for a very strong two-week total of $144 million, according to comScore, which compiles ticketing data. “Zootopia” has taken in an additional $288.7 million overseas.
Paramount’s “10 Cloverfield Lane” was second. It took in about $24.7 million, on the high end of analysts’ prerelease expectations,
and cost roughly $15 million to make. Paramount, which its corporate owner, Viacom, has put partially for sale, badly needed a hit after starting the year with a trio of flops, including “Zoolander 2.”
1. ZOOTOPIA, The world building is fantastic is this animated detective story-comedy about an animal world where predator and prey are friends. As a cop bunny and con-artist fox (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman) investigate a crime, the film comfortably confronts intolerance and discrimination. (PG) 108 minutes — Peter Hartlaub $51.3 million; $144 million; 2 weeks
2. 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE, Car-accident survivor Michelle wakes up to find herself in an underground bunker with two men. One tells her that a chemical attack has rendered the air toxic and their only hope of survival is to remain inside. Michelle’s desire to learn the truth about the outside world comes to fruition. (PG-13) 105 minutes — Tribune Media Source
$24.7 million; 1 week
3. DEADPOOL, A wretched exercise, this latest in dreadful comic-book boredom is a brutal, incoherent, self-referential mess, unappealing from start to finish. Even worse, it’s just the sort of empty cleverness that might win the future. (R) 108 minutes — Mick LaSalle $10.9 million; $328.2 million; 5weeks
4. LONDON HAS FALLEN, This action sequel to “Olympus Has Fallen,” which was set in Washington, D.C., leaves the British capital in ruins, thanks to terrorists who can kill heads of state and blow up well-guarded landmarks with the flick of a wrist. There’s no escaping the reality that you’ve already seen everything this film has to offer — many, many times. (R) 99 minutes — David Lewis $10.8 million; $39 million; 2 weeks
5. WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT, Tina Fey stars in this fact-based story about a TV news writer whose life changes when she impulsively decides to become a foreign correspondent in Afghanistan. The film, a mix of comedy and drama, captures the particular appeal of living with a constant adrenaline high. (R) 111 minutes — M.L. $4.7 million; $14.6 million; 2 weeks
6. THE PERFECT MATCH, (not reviewed) When charming playboy Charlie coaxes Eva into a casual affair, she turns the tables on him, forcing the lifelong bachelor to question whether he wants more than just a one-night stand. (R) 91 minutes — T.M.S. $4.3 million; 1 week
7. THE YOUNG MESSIAH, (not reviewed) Based on a novel by Anne Rice, this film tells the story of Jesus from age 7. (PG-13) 111 minutes
$3.3 million; 1 week
8. THE BROTHERS GRIMSBY, Comedy starring Sacha Baron Cohen is about a British spy forced to work with his brother, a football hooligan. No, it’s not all that sophisticated. But compared to “Zoolander 2,” it is practically high art. (R) 83 minutes — Rene Rodriguez
$3.3 million; 1 week
9. GODS OF EGYPT, ½ star This fantasy adventure about a human hero who participates in a war among the gods for Egypt’s throne is an epic disaster. (PG-13) 127 minutes — M.L. $2.5 million; $27.4 million; 3 weeks
10. RISEN, The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ is depicted from the perspective of a Roman tribune, in this highly effective and very different biblical film directed by Kevin Reynolds. Whatever your religious affiliation, you are likely to come away thinking, “If this did actually happen, it probably happened like this.” (PG-13) 108 minutes — M.L. $2.3 million; $32.4 million; 4weeks
11. THE REVENANT, A man (Leonardo DiCaprio) is severely wounded in a bear attack and abandoned by his companions in the American Northwest of the 1820s. It’s an impressively directed film (Alejandro G. Iñárritu), with a brilliant first half and a perfectly enjoyable but less striking second half. (R) 156 minutes — M.L. $2 million; $179.2 million; 12 weeks
12. KUNGFU PANDA 3, The saga of Po the Panda (Jack Black) continues with an all-you-caneat buffet of plot — introducing a parent who was presumed dead, a litter of baby pandas and a beast from another dimension. It’s hard to say anyone doesn’t get their money’s worth with this sequel, even as the story strains under the weight of it all. (PG) 95 minutes — P.H. $1.7 million; $136.5 million; 7 weeks