‘Ralph’ breaks into top spot for the third week
In the calm before the Christmas storm at the box office, “Ralph Breaks the Internet” remained No. 1 for the third straight week, while the upcoming DC Comics superhero film “Aquaman” arrived with a cannonball-sized splash in Chinese theaters.
For the second week in a row, no new wide releases opened in North American theaters, allowing Disney’s animated sequel to again lead domestic ticket sales with $16.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The top six movies at the box office were all unchanged. Universal’s “The Grinch,” still a major draw in its fifth weekend, trailed in second with $15.2 million.
But the weekend’s biggest new arrival was in China, where Warner Bros.’ “Aquaman” debuted with $93.6 million in ticket sales.
That marked a new opening-weekend record for both Warner Bros. and DC in China.
Considering the checkered recent history of DC movies (“Justice League,” “Suicide Squad”), the big launch in China was a promising sign for the spinoff starring Jason Momoa.
“Aquaman” will expand to 40 countries next week and arrive in North American theaters Dec. 21.
Next weekend, the box office is expected to be significantly busier with the release of “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” “Once Upon a Deadpool” and Clint Eastwood’s “The Mule” and “Mortal Engines.”
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.
1. “Ralph Breaks the Internet”: $16.1 million
2. “The Grinch”: $15.2 million
3. “Creed II”: $10.3 million
4. “Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald”: $6.8 million
5. “Bohemian Rhapsody”: $6 million
6. “Instant Family”: $5.6 million
7. “Green Book”: $3.9 million.
8. “Robin Hood”: $3.6 million
9. “Possession of Hannah Grace”: $3.2 million
10. “Widows”: $3.1 million