‘Maze Runner’ ends with a win

Fox dominated the box office this weekend with three vastly different films placing among the top five: “Maze Runner: The Death Cure,” “The Greatest Showman” and “The Post.”

“It’s a testament to the diverse types of films that Fox is known for and having the ability to appeal to so many segments of the audience,” said Chris Aronson, Fox’s president of domestic distribution.

“Maze Runner: The Death Cure,” debuted at No. 1, at the high end of analysts’ predictions, with an estimated $23.5 million.

After four weeks at No. 1, Sony’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” dropped to second, raking in $16.4 million (a 16% decline) for a cumulative total of $338 million.

In third, Entertainment Studio Motion Pictures’ “Hostiles” added 2,697 locations and $10.2 million to its earnings in its first wide-release weekend for a cumulative $12 million.

“The reason we saw such a huge uptick is because of that increase from 119 theaters last week to a wide release this weekend,” said senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian.

Rounding out the top five were two more Fox films. In fourth place, “The Greatest Showman” added $9.5 million ) for a cumulative $126.5 million. In fifth, “The Post,” a best picture Oscar nominee, added $8.9 million for a cumulative $58.5 million.

Among other Oscar contenders, announced Tuesday, Fox Searchlight’s “The Shape of Water” (which led the nominations with 13) added 1,001 theaters and $5.7 million, boosting its cumulative earnings to $37.7 million.

The studio’s seven-time Oscar nominee “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” also added $3.6 million for a $37 million total.