Weekend Box Office Report: March 15-17, 2019

Captain Marvel stands strong on top!

For a second weekend, CAPTAIN MARVEL was the champion of the box office in first place with an estimated $69.3 million!

Marvel's powerful galactic protagonist dropped by 55% from her opening, which is about average for the second weekends of recent MCU releases (AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR – 55%; THOR: RAGNAROK – 53%; ANT-MAN AND THE WASP – 61%), although last year's BLACK PANTHER defied that pattern with just a 44% dip.

The debut of Brie Larson as former Air Force pilot and rogue Starforce soldier Carol Danvers/Vers has traveled higher/further/faster to a ten-day domestic total of $266.2 million.

Also featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Jude Law and Ben Mendelsohn, the 21st entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has soared to a worldwide total of $760.2 million, making it the studio's 11th biggest release as it surpasses the final global totals for DOCTOR STRANGE ($677 million) and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER ($714 million) while rapidly approaching the $773 million finish of the first GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY.

When lined up against recent superpowered competitors from DC Comics, so far CAPTAIN MARVEL (which cost a reported $152 million) has also overpowered the worldwide totals of JUSTICE LEAGUE ($657 million), MAN OF STEEL ($668 million) and SUICIDE SQUAD ($746 million).

The week's new wide releases couldn't present much of a challenge for the latest superhero on the block. The animated WONDER PARK had the biggest impact in second place with an opening weekend of $16 million.

Paramount's original family feature (with the voices of Matthew Broderick, Jennifer Garner and Mila Kunis) reportedly cost at least $80 million to produce.

Critics didn't find much amusement in the PG-rated animal adventure, giving it an average of 30% on Rotten Tomatoes. Crawl on over to the Joblo review HERE.

Opening in third place was the teen melodrama FIVE FEET APART with $13.1 million for the weekend.

The PG-13 romance between two young patients with chronic illness cost a reported $7 million. Critics weren't overcome with sympathy for the kids, giving the movie a 52% average on Rotten Tomtatoes.

Descending to fourth place was HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD with $9.3 million. The $129 million animated sequel has flown to a domestic total of $135.6 million and a worldwide total of $466.5 million, slowly closing in on the $494 million global finish of the original HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON.

The PG-13 comedy sequel TYLER PERRY'S A MADEA FAMILY FUNERAL was in fifth place with $8 million, bringing Perry's purportedly last Madea chapter to a domestic total of $59 million (on a reported $20 million cost).

In sixth place was the new R-rated Spanish-language comedy sequel NO MANCHES FRIDA 2 with an opening weekend of $3.8 million on just 472 screens (for the second-highest per-screen average in the Top 10).

Opening in seventh place was the new sci-fi thriller CAPTIVE STATE with $3.1 million.

Directed by Rupert Wyatt (RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES), the PG-13 depiction of Chicago life after an alien occupation cost a reported $25 million.

Critics didn't seem particularly impressed with the extraterrestrial invasion and political allegory, giving the movie a 47% average on Rotten Tomatoes (the JoBlo review is HERE).

In eighth place was PG-rated sequel THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART with $2.1 million as the animated adventure has snapped past $100 million domestic after six weekends. The $99 million LEGO follow-up has built a worldwide total of $171.4 million.

ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL was in ninth place with $1.9 million, bringing director Robert Rodriguez's PG-13 anime/manga adapation to a domestic total of $81.8 million on its fifth weekend. The $170 million sci-fi/action saga has a worldwide total of $394 million.

Oscar winner GREEN BOOK closed out the list with $1.2 million, which gives the PG-13 drama with Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali a domestic total of $82.6 million and a worldiwide total of $274.6 million, on a $23 million reported cost.

Outside the chart, the romcom ISN'T IT ROMANTIC left the list along with wrestling comedy-drama FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY,  psychological thriller GRETA and moon landing documentary APOLLO 11. Of the weekend's limited releases, R-rated Sundance fave THE MUSTANG had the best performance with a $19k per-screen average.

Next weekend presents a family's dangerous side in Jordan Peele's horror-thriller US, while limited releases include the drama HOTEL MUMBAI.

Which upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe project (post-AVENGERS: ENDGAME) interests you the most? VOTE HERE!