#BOXOFFICE: “WAR ROOM” TAKES TOP OF THE BOX OFFICE LABOUR DAY WEEKEND

On a tepid weekend at the Box Office this Labour Day weekend, religious Drama WAR ROOM  takes the top of the Box Office in its second week out for Sony Pictures with $11.9  million, from 1,526 screens only. Despite not having opened yet in Canada, the Film continues to fare well in limited release.

In second this weekend was three-week champ STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON with $11.5 million for Universal Pictures, surpassing the $150 million-mark in North America.

A WALK IN THE WOODS starring Robert Redford and Emma Thompson debuts in third with $11 million for eOne Films/BGP Films. It gets a B CinemaScore from Audiences and a 47% on the Tomatometer.

THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED opens in fourth for Europa Corp./VVS Films with $8.8 million from 3,434 theatres. Critics gave it 18% on the Tomatometer and Audiences gave it a B- CinemaScore.

INSIDE OUT continues to hang strong in eighth spot for Disney, with $4.3 million, now in its 14th week out domestically. By early this week it will have grossed $350 million in North America.

SINISTER 2 rounds-out the Top Ten in its third week out with $3.9 million for eOne Films/Focus Features.

 

#BOXOFFICE: “STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON” ON-TOP A THIRD WEEK

For a third straight week, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON takes it to the top of the Box Office again with $12.5 million from 3,142 theatres for Universal Pictures. Although it was a tepid weekend in terms of ticket sales, this is enough to take bring the Hip-Hop Drama to $133 million cumulatively in its domestic run.

WAR ROOM debuts in second with $10.2 million from 1,135 theatres for Sony Pictures, although it didn’t get distribution in Canada. The faith-based Drama got 18% on the Tomatometer from Critics.

NO ESCAPE debuts in third with $9.8 million for The Weinstein Co./VVS Films.   Starring Owen Wilson and Pierce Brosnan, the Action Flick got a B+ CinemaScore from Audiences and 41% on the Tomatometer.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROGUE NATION continues to perform well in fourth with $7.5 million in its fifth week out for Paramount Pictures. By early this week it will have exceeded $170 million in North America.

SINISTER 2 in its second week out is in sixth with $4.1 million for eOne Films/Focus Features from 2,799 theatres.

ANT-MAN rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.7 million for Disney/Marvel, nearing the $170 million-mark domestically in its seventh week out.

#BOXOFFICE: “STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON” CONTINUES BOX OFFICE DOMINATION

In its second week out, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON continues to motor-on at the top of the Box Office. Earning $27.5 million this weekend from 2.757 theatres, the Universal Pictures Hip-Hop Biopic based on the rise of Hip-Hop legends N.W.A., quickly has grossed $111.2 million domestically.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROGUE NATION continues to perform strongly in its fourth week out for Paramount Pictures, making $11.9  million, good enough for second.  It has grossed $157 million in its North American run.

SINISTER 2 opens in third for eOne Films/Focus Features with $11 million.  By comparison, its first installment made $18 million in its debut in 2012.  Critics gave it 12% on the Tomatometer and Audiences gave it a B- CinemaScore.

HITMAN: AGENT 47 opens in fourth with $8.3 million from 3,261 theatres for 20th Century Fox.  Critics were tough on the Action flick starring Rupert Friend with a 7% on the Tomatometer and an okay B CinemaScore.

AMERICAN ULTRA starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, debuts in sixth for Elevation Pictures/Lionsgate with $5.6 million from 2,778 theatres. Critics gave it mixed reviews at 45% on the Tomatometer and a B- CinemaScore.

FANTASTIC FOUR rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.5 million for 20th Century Fox, earning $49 million in its three-week run.

#BOXOFFICE: “ARGO” SURGES TO #1 IN ITS THIRD WEEK

Unbelievably, Ben Affleck’s Argo finds itself at number one with $12.5 million on a really tepid Weekend, climbing steadily to the summit since its debut three weeks ago.  The Drama which is seen widely as a Frontrunner for Best Picture, still is showing in 2,855 theatres across North America. To-date it has earned $61.5 million domestically.

Mega-Opus Cloud Atlas, despite gaining high marks for Artistic Merit, alas debuts below expectations in second with $9.5 million for Warner Bros.    Critics gave it favourable Reviews, tallying 61% on the Tomatometer.  The Film with a Cast of Megastars including Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving and several more, was made for a budget of $102 million.

Former number one Hotel Transylvania still is going strong into Halloween with $9 million in its fifth week – enough to land it in third this weekend for Sony Pictures, just ahead of last week’s Champion Paranormal Activity 4, which happens also to be in fourth with $8.6 million.

Silent Hill: Revelation 3-D  which debuts in fifth with $8.5 million, from 2,933 theatres  for Open Road/Alliance Films.  The Horror which was filmed in Toronto, earned only 7% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes.

Rounding-out the Horror Contingent is Sinister, which still hanging-tough in ninth with $5 million in its third week.  Pitch Perfect rounds out the Top Ten for Universal Pictures with $4.2 million.

#BOXOFFICE: “TAKEN 2” STEALS THE BOX OFFICE A SECOND WEEK

Although hotly-buzzed Horror Sinister burst out of the gate running on Friday, alas it is last week’s Champion Taken 2 on-top again for a second week with $22.7 million from 3,705 theatres. Despite a competitive weekend with several new Films opening, the Liam Neeson-starring Blockbuster remains victorious, banking $86 million in two weeks for 20th Century Fox.

Following right behind in second is Warner Bros.’ Argo, directed by Ben Affleck.  The Drama which premiered at TIFF last month has gained strong word-of-mouth and earns a stellar 94% at Rotten Tomatoes and is considered widely a real Contender to win Best Picture at the Oscars.

Sinister finds itself in third spot with $18.3 million for Lionsgate Films/Alliance Films, from 2,527 theatres.  Earning positive reviews, the Scott Derrickson Film starring Ethan Hawke tallies-in at 63% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.  Made for a micro-budget of $3 million only, Sinister already is a major success based on brilliant marketing.  I dare you to watch its Trailer and not get creeped-out!

Mixed Martial Arts Comedy Here Comes the Boom, starring Kevin James, opens in fifth for Sony Pictures with $12 million from 3,014 theatres, although reviews have been more mixed with a total 44% on Rotten Tomatoes.  Musical-Comedy Pitch Perfect continues to do well in sixth with $8.8 million this weekend, earning $38  million overall after costing only $17 million to make.

Seven Psychopaths opens in ninth with $4.1 million for CBS Films/Alliance Films from 1,480 theatres, earning v. positive reviews (84% on Rotten Tomatoes).  The quirky Dark Comedy which won the Midnight Madness People’s Choice Award at TIFF last month, stars Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell, Abbie Cornish, Tom Waits and adorable Bonny the Shih Tzu.  Although it admittedly is a bit of a challenge to sell to audiences, clearly is in the favourable books of the Arthouse Crowd and will expand in coming weeks, timed for Halloween.

Rounding out the Top Ten in North America is Atlas Shrugged Part 2 – not to be confused with Cloud Atlas – based on the Novel by Ayn Rand.  The Film has yet to see a release in Canada, but pulled-in $1.9 million south of the Border.