Spielberg’s ‘Ready Player One’ scores
LOS ANGELES » Steven Spielberg has found his way back to the top of the box office with the action-adventure “Ready Player One,” while Tyler Perry has scored again with “Acrimony.”
Studio estimates on Sunday say Spielberg’s virtual reality-focused film earned a solid $53.2 million in its first four days in theaters from 4,234 locations since opening Wednesday night, with $41.2 million of that coming from the three-day weekend.
Not adjusted for inflation, it’s Spielberg’s best opening in a decade following “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” which launched with $100.1 million in 2008. Aside from “The BFG,” Spielberg has lately favored smaller historical dramas instead of the big-scale blockbusters of his heyday.
Based on Ernest Cline’s popular novel and chockfull of references to 1980s pop culture, including some nods to Spielberg’s own films, “Ready Player One” is a return to the popcorn filmmaking that he became known for. With that includes a reportedly hefty $175 million price tag.
Audiences gave the film an A- CinemaScore, and reviews have been warm, too (it’s sitting at a 76 percent on Rotten Tomatoes). Those who turned out this weekend were mostly male (59 percent) and over the age of 25 (56 percent).
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “Ready Player One”: $41.2 million.
2. “Tyler Perry’s Acrimony”: $17.1 million.
3. “Black Panther”: $11.3 million.
4. “I Can Only Imagine”: $10.8 million.
5. “Pacific Rim Uprising”: $9.2 million.
6. “Sherlock Gnomes”: $7 million.
7. “Love, Simon”: $4.8 million.
8. “Tomb Raider”: $4.7 million.
9. “A Wrinkle in Time”: $4.7 million.
10. “Paul, Apostle of Christ”: $3.5 million.