Early predictions hadAquamantaking the top spot at the box office this weekend, winning its fourth in a row. ButThe Upsideslid in and surprised everyone with a $19.5 million win. The drama arrived amidst controversy over Kevin Hart’s role as potential Oscars host. Though he has stepped down from that position, it’s clear audiences still want to watch him work.
Coming from STXfilms and Lantern Entertainment,The Upsideis an adaptation of the hit French movieLes Intouchables. Kevin Hart stars opposite Bryan Cranston and their on-screen chemistry was enough to make this drama abox officehit. It’s $19.5 million take doubles early estimates, and it has since earned an A Cinema score. The film was directed by Neil Burger, who already has films likeThe IllusionistandLimitlessunder his belt. Nicole Kidman also appears in the movie, which didn’t hurt anything.
Aquamanmay have slipped to the number two slot at the box office, getting dethrones in its fourth weekend playing domestically. But it crossed a major milestone for the DCEU, having now earned over $1 billion worldwide. It pulled in another $17.2 million in the states, bringing its total domestic pull to $287.8 million. It is close to overtakingMan of Steel’s stateside total of $291 million. Overseas,Aquamanadded another $27.9 million to its pot, pushing the worldwide grosses to $732.4 million. It is now sitting at $1.02 billion globally, which isn’t half bad for a grungy fishman.
Coming in at third place was the Columbia Pictures/Bona Film Group’s dramaA Dog’s Way Home, which pulled in $11.3, also beating early expectations. Though, that marks a definite downturn from the first movie,A Dog’s Purpose, which opened to the tune of $18.2 million back in 2017.Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Versemanaged to hold tight onto it’s fourth place position, getting another $9 million. That brings its domestic total to $147.7. The international gross is currently at $$154.6 million, which makes its worldwide total $302.4 million.
In second place last week,Escape Roomhas slipped to 5th place with another $8.9 million. The horror thriller has been winning praise from critics and fans, and is another surprise, with its domestic total currently resting at $32.4 million off a relatively small budget. So it’s a hit, and a sequel is likely. Coming in 6th is the Disney hitMary Poppins Returnswith $7.2, pushing its U.S. total t $150.7 million. It currently has a worldwide total of $287.9 million, and a sequel is also likely.
Rounding out this weekend’s top ten areBumblebeeat #7 with $6.7 million,On the Basis of Sexat #8 with $6.2 million,The Muleat #9 with $5.5 million and rounding it off at the bottom is the Dick Cheney biopicVice, which brought in $3.2 million. Things will definitely get shook up big time next week when M. Night Shyamalan’s long awaitedUnbreakableandSplitsequelGlassfinally opens. It is the only major release for that weekend. These numbers come fromBox Office Mojo.
