Venom keeps a grip on first place!
Tom Hardy and his fanged symbiote partner retained their hold on the top of the box office this weekend as VENOM made an estimated $35.7 million!
Director Ruben Fleischer's PG-13 Marvel comic adaptation dropped by 55% from its opening last weekend. Although VENOM isn't officially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the second-week loss is about average for that blockbuster superhero series (it's the exact percentage that AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR dropped in weekend two).
While Spider-Man was nowhere in sight, the cinematic origin story of his gooey black comic book adversary has a ten-day domestic total of $142.8 million.
The PG-13 solo adventure of the alien antihero has also clutched $235.8 million from international crowds for a worldwide total of $378.1 million, which (for a reported $100 million cost) seems like a promising start to Sony's own spinoff Marvel Universe.
The musical drama A STAR IS BORN was in second place once again with $28 million. The Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga romance dipped by just 35% from last week's opening.
The R-rated remake (also directed by Cooper) has a domestic total of $94.1 million and a worldwide total of $135.3 million, on a reported cost of $36 million.
Opening in third place was the new astronaut movie FIRST MAN with $16.5 million for the weekend.
The PG-13 historical drama, which reunites actor Ryan Gosling with his Oscar-winning LA LA LAND director Damien Chazelle, cost a reported $59 million.
Based on the book by James R. Hansen, the account of early space travel and Neil Armstrong's legendary lunar journey also pulled in $8.6 million overseas for a $25.1 million worldwide weekend.
Most critics were engaged by the depiction of NASA's first mission to the moon, giving the movie an 88% average on Rotten Tomatoes. Launch yourself over to the JoBlo review HERE.
In fourth place was the new sequel GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN with an opening weekend of $16.2 million.
The second feature adapted from R.L. Stine's popular book series came out lower than the original GOOSEBUMPS, which opened with $23.6 million in October of 2015.
The spooky PG-rated horror-comedy cost a reported $35 million, considerably cheaper than the $58 million price tag of the first movie (which, unlike the new follow-up, had Jack Black in the starring role).
Critics seemed to feel more tricked than treated this time around, giving the movie a 43% average on Rotten Tomatoes. Bump on over to the JoBlo review HERE.
The animated comedy SMALLFOOT was in fifth place with $9.3 million, carrying the PG-rated Yeti tale to a domestic total of $57.6 million on its third weekend. The Warner Animation release, which cost a reported $80 million, now has a worldwide total of $110.2 million.
In sixth was the Kevin Hart / Tiffany Haddish comedy NIGHT SCHOOL with $8 million. After three weeks, the PG-13 movie from director Malcolm D. Lee (UNDERCOVER BROTHER, GIRLS TRIP) has a domestic total of $59.8 million and $75.2 million worldwide on a reported $29 million cost.
Despite a high-profile cast (Chris Hemsworth, Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson), the the new R-rated thriller BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE didn't seem to make much of an impression with moviegoers — the period noir opened in seventh place was with $7.2 million.
The original effort from writer-director Drew Goddard (CABIN IN THE WOODS), following a group of strangers at a Lake Tahoe hotel, cost a reported $32 million.
Critics were tentatively engrossed by the twisting tale, giving the dark mystery a 70% average on Rotten Tomatoes. You can check in at the JoBlo review HERE.
Horror-comedy THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS was in eighth place with $3.9 million. On its fourth weekend, director Eli Roth's PG-rated Gothic fantasy with Jack Black and Cate Blanchett is at $62.2 million domestic and $101.8 million worldwide (on a reported $42 million cost).
After a decent limited release debut last week, THE HATE U GIVE expanded to 248 screens and jumped on the list in ninth place with $1.7 million. The acclaimed drama (which goes wide next week) has a domestic total of $2.4 million.
At the bottom was the R-rated thriller A SIMPLE FAVOR with $1.3 million. The Anna Kendrick/Blake Lively mystery has a domestic total of $52 million and a worldwide total of $83 million on a reported $20 million cost.
Outside the chart, THE CONJURING spinoff THE NUN was finally scared away, along with low-budget horror movie HELL FEST. In addition, Shane Black's sequel THE PREDATOR activated its cloaking device and disappeared, and romcom CRAZY RICH ASIANS left the Top 10 with a handsome $171 million domestic finish.
In limited release, the new Steve Carell/Timothee Chalamet drama BEAUTIFUL BOY had strong $55k per-screen average. Critics weren't fully on board with the fact-based addicition story, giving it an average of 64% on Rotten Tomatoes (the JoBlo review is HERE).
Next weekend has masked murderer Michael Myers once again stalking Jamie Lee Curtis in the latest HALLOWEEN.
What is your favorite Ryan Gosling performance? VOTE HERE!
| # | MOVIE TITLE | WKND $ | TOTAL $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Venom | $35.7 M | $142.8 M |
| 2 | A Star Is Born | $28 M | $94.1 M |
| 3 | First Man | $16.5 M | NEW |
| 4 | Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween | $16.2 M | NEW |
| 5 | Smallfoot | $9.3 M | $57.6 M |
| 6 | Bad Times at the El Royale | $7.2 M | NEW |
| 7 | Night School | $8 M | $59.8 M |
| 8 | The House with a Clock in Its Walls | $3.9 M | $62.2 M |
| 9 | The Hate U Give | $1.7 M | $2.4 M |
| 10 | A Simple Favor | $1.3 M | $52 M |