Ralph dominates the box-office

DISNEY’S new Ralph Breaks the Internet ( below) dominated North American box offices over the holiday weekend, pulling in an estimated US$55.7 million (RM233.58 million) for the Fridaythrough-Sunday stretch, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.

The animated sequel to Wreck It Ralph enjoyed the second-best debut ever for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, behind Disney’s Frozen, according to Variety.com, but will need staying power to make up for its US$175 million (RM733.86 million) production budget.

The film has title character Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) and friend Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) venturing into the wide world of the web.

The second spot this weekend went to another new release, MGM’s Creed II, with a take of US$35.3 million (RM148 million). This eighth chapter in the Rocky series stars Michael B. Jordan, Dolph Lundgren and Sylvester Stallone as the ageing Rocky Balboa. Jordan plays Adonis Creed, who takes on the son of the boxer who killed his father all those years ago.

In third was Universal’s familyfriendly animation The Grinch, at US$30.2 million (RM126.64 million). Benedict Cumberbatch voices the ill-tempered title character, with support from Rashida Jones and Angela Lansbury.

Sliding from first spot last weekend to fourth was Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald from Warner Bros., at US$29.7 million (RM124.55 million). The Harry Potter prequel stars Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, who must now work with Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) to take down the evil Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp).

In fifth was Bohemian Rhapsody, Fox’s foot-stomping biopic about Freddie Mercury and rock group Queen, at US$13.9 million (RM58.3 million). Rami Malek has drawn critical acclaim for his portrayal of the singer/songwriter, and the film has amassed over US$150 million (RM629 million) in North American receipts. – AFPRelaxnews