TOP 12 FILMS AT THE BOX OFFICE
Three weeks after opening, Pixar’s “Inside Out” has finally slain the dinosaurs of “Jurassic World.”
In final box-office figures released Monday, “Inside Out” came out slightly ahead. Weekend estimates had “Jurassic World” narrowly edging the animated feature for the top spot.
Despite the brawny enticements of Channing Tatum and Arnold Schwarzenegger, two new releases struggled to find moviegoers over the Fourth of July holiday.
Paramount’s “Terminator Genisys,” which cost $155 million to produce, made $27 million over the weekend and $42.5 million since it opened Wednesday. It did, however, lead the international box office with $74 million.
“Magic Mike XXL,” Warner Bros.’ sequel to the 2012 hit, was made for just $15 million. But it also didn’t draw as expected, earning $27.9 million over five days of release.
1. INSIDE OUT, The latest from Pixar is an ambitious, original movie that depicts the inner workings of a little girl’s mind. It has a great opening and a satisfying finish, and though it sags somewhat in the middle, it never loses its audience. (PG) 94 minutes — Mick LaSalle $29.8 million; $245.9 million; 3 weeks
2. JURASSIC WORLD, The movie matches the wit and pace of a 1990s monster movie with the attitudes and anxieties of 2015, and the result is a film that’s as smart as it is exciting. The action scenes are imaginative and suspenseful and gradually take on a demented exuberance. (PG-13) 124 minutes — M.L. $29.2 million; $556.5 million; 4 weeks
3. TERMINATOR GENISYS, The pleasure of seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger in his signature role is the main kick of this OK-but-convoluted installment, in which one person goes back in time and two people go forward in time to collaborate on making sure nothing bad happens. The film’s main problem is that Schwarzenegger doesn’t get to carry the story, and his co-stars lack the star power to do it. (PG-13) 126 minutes — M.L. $27 million; $42.5 million; 1 week
4. MAGIC MIKE XXL, This sequel starts off interesting — as a road movie — but degenerates into an endless slog of very bad strip routines and lifeless character interludes. Channing Tatum is appealing, but he can’t do much in a film with no drama and no emotional consequences. At times, however, it’s so bad it’s funny, and that’s almost something. (R) 115 minutes — M.L. $12.6 million; $27.9 million; 1 week
5. TED 2, This very funny sequel
reunites Mark Wahlberg and his teddy bear friend, as Ted strives to achieve his civil rights despite being a stuffed animal. The jokes are audacious and plentiful, and viewers who don’t mind vulgar humor will find much to enjoy. Directed and co-written by Seth MacFarlane. (R) 115 minutes — M.L. $11.2 million; $58.5 million; 2 weeks
6. MAX, This family movie is partly a redemption story about a troubled boy and his traumatized dog, but also a crime thriller with action elements and a junior detective tale. It’s a melodrama that aims to uphold traditional values. There’s some sappy music and a Hallmark look to it, but it’s effective in playing to the viewer’s emotions. (PG) 111 minutes — Walter Addiego $6.6 million; $23.4 million; 2 weeks
7. SPY, Melissa McCarthy gets her best starring role to date in this comedy, from writerdirector Paul Feig, about a desk-job CIA agent who gets sent out on her first field assignment — to stop a team of terrorists. McCarthy is very funny in a variety of modes. (R) 115 minutes — M.L. $5.1 million; $97.5 million; 5 weeks
8. SAN ANDREAS, The movie promises great earthquake effects, and that’s what you get in this straight-ahead action movie. Nobody’s pretending to make a masterpiece here, but this is a good summer entertainment that, within its limits, is imaginative and well-acted. And it clocks in at under two hours. (PG-13) 114 minutes — M.L. $2.8 million; $147.2 million; 6 weeks
9. ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL, This is a very smart movie that walks the line between comedy and drama, farce and tragedy, with its story of a friendship that develops between a witty yet odd high school student and a classmate suffering from leukemia. The title may keep people away in droves, but the movie is worth seeing. (PG-13) 105 minutes — M.L. $1.2 million; $3.9 million; 4 weeks
10. DOPE, This funny, uncompromising comingof-age film follows Shameik Moore as Malcolm, a geeky kid living in a crime-ridden Los Angeles neighborhood. He hopes to go to Harvard, but first he has to survive the next few months, and it’s not going to be easy. (R) 115 minutes — M.L. $1.1 million; $14.1 million; 3 weeks
11. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, Artful touches and a cleverly imagined future world lift this film somewhat, but the bottom line is that it’s pretty much a two-hour chase scene, with lots of fake-looking special effects. If that sounds great to you, here’s your ticket. (R) 121 minutes — M.L. $1 million; $149 million; 8 weeks
12. AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, It’s long, loud, stuffed with special effects and sporadically witty, and it sets up events for yet another sequel. What it doesn’t have is any sense of going above and beyond. Fans of the franchise will be pleased, but those looking in from the outside of comic-book culture may find themselves also looking at their watches. (PG-13) 141 minutes — Cary Darling, Fort Worth Star-Telegram $886,151; $454.2 million; 10 weeks