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SA’s Weekend Top 10 Movie Chart: Baby on board

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Bridget Jones's Baby

Every time I hear the phrase ‘baby on board,’ my brain inevitably switches to that Simpsons episode where Homer joins a barbershop quartet and pens a hit by the same name. But this week the phrase celebrates a true blast from the past: no, not the return of the Bridget Jones franchise, but Renee Zellweger!

Her IMDB indicates she has been busy – just in nothing major. And last year Zellweger caused a stir by looking quite different to her ‘it girl’ pixie version of the Nineties. Personally I think it’s just an age thing (look at how much Robin Wright has changed). Anyway, more interesting is how divergent careers can be. Just over twenty years ago Zellweger was paying the bills alongside Matthew McConaughey in the truly forgettable Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (though McConaughey is a fun kinda mental in that).

But I digress: Zellweger is back in the role that made her a household name, and local audiences approve. This week the charts rebounded by making 15 percent more after several low weeks.

The Brat Pack

  • 1. BRIDGET JONES’S BABY (NE)
  • 2. BEN-HUR (incl 3D & 4DX) (NE)
  • 3. SULLY (incl Imax) (LW: 3)
  • 4. MECHANIC RESURRECTION (LW: 2)
  • 5. SUICIDE SQUAD (incl 3D, Imax & 4DX) (LW: 1)
  • 6. BAD MOMS (LW: 4)
  • 7. NINE LIVES (LW: 5)
  • 8. PETE’S DRAGON (incl 3D) (LW: 8)
  • 9. SAUSAGE PARTY (LW: 6)
  • 10. DIS KOUE KOS SKAT (LW: 10)

Child’s Play

1. BRIDGET JONES’S BABY
Weekend gross: R 2.1 million
Percentage change: n/a
Total gross: R 2.1 million

Bridget and her baby finally breathe some new life into the charts (and enrage grammar nazis), clocking a fairly solid R2 million in weekend takings. Yet though that looks impressive, it’s still not a lot considering Suicide Squad opened on R 10 million. The chart doldrums continue… (Read our review)

2. BEN-HUR (incl 3D & 4DX)
Weekend gross: R 1.3 million
Percentage change: n/a
Total gross: R 1.3 million

ben-hur1

Given all the bad press this has gotten, a second spot debut for Ben Hur might seem like a surprise. But it’s more a case of a weak chart. Ben Hur barely crosses R 1 million on its debut – far below what a potential blockbuster should – and is likely to shuffle down quickly once audiences get past the hype. (Read our review)

3. SULLY (incl Imax)
Weekend gross: R 900,000
Percentage change: -13.6%
Total gross: R 2.5 million

You have to give it to Clint Eastwood: the man knows something about making movies audiences want to see. So does Michael Bay, so let’s not get carried away here. Nonetheless, the story about a man, a plane and the river they share stayed put at third.

4. MECHANIC RESURRECTION
Weekend gross: R 700,000
Percentage change: -28.9%
Total gross: R 7.2 million

Fatigue is finally setting in around the Stath’s latest film. After jockeying for the top spot over the past few weeks, this action thriller is starting to wind down. Mind, it could rebound, since the new entrants are not very strong. But the latest earnings suggest this one’s ride is slowing.

5. SUICIDE SQUAD (incl 3D, Imax & 4DX)
Weekend gross: R 700,000
Percentage change: -30.6%
Total gross: R 34 million

The current blockbuster and chart heavyweight takes a four spot tumble after some back and forth at the top. But don’t feel sad: Suicide Squad made roughly the same overall as the rest of the current chart combined. (Read our review)

6. BAD MOMS
Weekend gross: R 700,000
Percentage change: -14.7%
Total gross: R 8.3 million

When I say Suicide Squad made as much as the entire rest of the chart, that is mainly due to The Mechanic, Pete’s Dragon and this movie. The rest of the films are so-so earners, but Bad Moms has been enjoying a nice ride and is the second-biggest overall earner in the top 10.

7. NINE LIVES
Weekend gross: R 600,000
Percentage change: 4.9%
Total gross: R 3.2 million

Despite dropping two spots, this talking cat film actually went up in its earnings. How does that work? I don’t know. If I could do maths, I’d be rich and not writing chart reports for a movie blog.

8. PETE’S DRAGON (incl 3D)
Weekend gross: R 500,000
Percentage change: 9.6%
Total gross: R 6.1 million

Pete’s Dragon is certainly still a disappointment for Disney, but it has been showing some resilience on the local charts. This past weekend it actually had a boost in its earnings and also maintained its hold on the 8th position. (Read our review)

9. SAUSAGE PARTY
Weekend gross: R 400,000
Percentage change: -15.1%
Total gross: R 1.1 million

Some reviews suggest this movie’s problem is that it is for mature audiences only, yet contains totally immature humour. Maybe we are making it too hard for kids to slip into this film. Or maybe they are buying Bridget Jones tickets and sneaking into Sausage Party instead.

10. DIS KOUE KOS SKAT
Weekend gross: R 300,000
Percentage change: -25%
Total gross: R 2.6 million

In the past I have expressed surprise that this film, with its premise and cast, didn’t have a better debut. But it has since shown some real staying power. Despite sitting at the tail end of the chart since it arrived four weeks go, Dis Koue Kos Skat has held its own.

Department of Missing Children

Go boldly wherever you want, buddy, but you can’t stay here. Star Trek: Beyond leaves the top ten after a very disappointing run. All that goodwill about collaborating with the cast for the script and asking fans to fact-check turns out to be for naught. Apparently it’s only in 3D, which may have been a bad idea. War Dogs also limps out of view with its tail between its legs. The biopic comedy failed to raise any real interest and only had top 10 presence for two weeks.

Last Updated: September 22, 2016

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