Weekend Box Office Report: March 31-April 2, 2017

The Boss Baby takes charge!

Animated infant Alec Baldwin seized control of the box office this weekend as THE BOSS BABY opened with an estimated $49 million!

The PG-rated family comedy (adapted from the childrens' book of the same name) was about average for the first weekend of a non-SHREK Dreamworks effort, right between the $47.6 million start of KUNG FU PANDA 2 and the $49.4 million opening of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2.

The movie about the secret struggle between puppies and babies only crawled to a 49% critical average on Rotten Tomatoes. The JoBlo review can be found HERE.

Disney's live-action BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was close behind in second with $47.5 million, bringing its domestic total to nearly $400 million after three weekends.

The Emma Watson/Dan Stevens fairy tale romance is a money-making monster, now up to a worldwide total of $876 million (on a reported production cost of $160 million).

Opening in third place was the new Scarlett Johansson sci-fi movie GHOST IN THE SHELL with $19 million.

The live-action adaptation of the popular manga and anime started with less than half of Johansson's previous time fronting an action movie — Luc Besson's LUCY opened with $44 million in 2014.

The futuristic PG-13 movie from SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN director Rupert Sanders cost a reported $110 million, and earned an additional $40 million from international audiences. The movie opens in China and Japan next week, when any impact from the casting controversy will be apparent.

Critics pulled the plug on the cyborg story with a 42% average on Rotten Tomatoes. The JoBlo review is HERE.

Go go POWER RANGERS from second down to fourth place with $14.5 million, a drop of 64% from its opening last weekend. The multi-colored heroes have a ten-day domestic total of $65 million, with a worldwide total at $97 million (on a cost of $100 million).

KONG: SKULL ISLAND was in fifth with $8.8 million for a domestic total of $147.8 million after four weeks in theaters. With an additional $329 million from overseas, the titular ape has pounded his chest to a worldwide total of $477.3 million (the movie cost a reported $185 million).

Hugh Jackman's mutant LOGAN still isn't tired just yet, in sixth place with $6.2 million on its fifth weekend on screens. Director James Mangold's R-rated finale for the character has a domestic total of $211.8 million, with a worldwide total of $585 million.

Writer-director Jordan Peele's horror movie GET OUT keeps holding on with another $5.8 million in seventh place for a domestic total of $156.8 million (on a reported $5 million cost).

The space terror of LIFE was in eighth with $5.6 million, descending 55% from its opening last week for a ten-day domestic total of $22.3 million. The TV adaptation CHIPS was behind it in ninth place with $4 million, losing 47% from last weekend's opening for a $14.3 million ten-day domestic total.

Opening in tenth place was the new Jessica Chastain period piece THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE with $3.3 million. The fact-based WWII story from director Niki Caro was released in only 541 locations, and started up with a stronger per-screen average than anything on the list that wasn't a fairy tale or an animated baby. Critics gave the Holocaust drama a 59% average on Rotten Tomatoes.

Outside the chart, THE SHACK collapsed, while THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE flew away with nearly $300 million worldwide and THE BELKO EXPERIMENT came to a close.

Next weekend offers the return of miniature blue beings in the animated SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE, the elderly actor comedy GOING IN STYLE and the Anne Hathaway creature feature COLOSSAL, while limited releases include the Chris Evans drama GIFTED.

Which April release are you most interested in seeing? VOTE HERE!