This weekend past at the US box office, it was the War of Wars! as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker tried to hold onto the top spot it’s occupied since its release a month ago, while Sam Mendes’ major Oscar contender World War I drama 1917 got a wide release. And in the end, audiences chose trenches in Europe instead of asteroid fields in a galaxy far, far away as 1917 dethroned Lucasfilm’s sci-fi blockbuster handily.
Buoyed by its Best Director and Best Motion Picture wins at the Golden Globes a week ago (and people like myself not being able to shut up about what a masterpiece it is), 1917 blew past Universal Pictures’ modest $20 million predictions with a very impressive $36.5 million opening as it expanded from 11 to 3400 cinemas. With an “A” Cinemascore, it would appear that audiences are as in love with Mendes’ serious Oscar contender as critics were which means that it should have strong box office legs during the quieter early year period. 1917 opened in 30 markets internationally as well, to the tune of $20 million, with further expansion – including South Africa – planned over the next for this coming weekend.
As for The Rise of Skywalker, it dipped 57% as it added another $15 million to its domestic coffers. With another $24.2 million coming from international markets, it leaves the film on the cusp of joining the billion dollar club with a current global tally of $989.6 million. There was a school of thought that had predicted The Rise of Skywalker would have crossed this milestone this weekend past already, but the final entry in the Skywalker saga has not been able to match the pace of its peers despite still making a massive amount of money.
With Jumanji: The Next Level rounding out the top three with a relatively strong $14 million for its fifth week on the charts, two newcomers on the charts – Like a Boss and Just Mercy – had to settle for a tied fourth place as both earned $10 million. It was Just Mercy that won out in the court of public opinion though as it went from a limited four-cinema run to a full domestic release. Director Destin Daniel Creton’s true-story court drama starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx earned full marks with an “A+” Cinemascore and strong reviews. On the flip side, the Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek-led R-rated WB comedy Like a Boss saw it earn only a “B” with audiences and a RottenTomatoes score of just 21%.
The final newcomer this past weekend was the Kristen Stewart-led aquatic horror-thriller Underwater. Unfortunately, it was more sink than swim as Underwater came in under predictions at just $7 million in seventh place, with mixed reviews from both critics and audiences. And the film’s international earnings won’t be helping much in this case as it was a non-event. Maybe itif Fox actually had released in more than just half a dozen cinemas in the entire South Africa we could have helped a little.
Let’s see what the rest of the US box office chart looks like:
| No. | Movie Name | Weekend gross | Percentage change | US Domestic gross | Worldwide gross | Last Week's Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1917 | $36.5 million | +5 809% | $39.2 million | $60.4 million | 17th |
| 2 | Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | $15 million | -56% | $478.1 million | $989.5 million | 1st |
| 3 | Jumanji: The Next Level | $14 million | -46% | $257.1 million | $671.1 million | 2nd |
| 4 | Just Mercy | $10 million | -12 952% | $10.4 million | $10.4 million | 29th |
| 5 | Like a Boss | $10 million | NE | $10 million | $10 million | NE |
| 6 | Little Women | $7.6 million | -43% | $74 million | $107.2 million | 3rd |
| 7 | Underwater | $7 million | NE | $7 million | $14.1 million | NE |
| 8 | Frozen II | $5.7 million | -51% | $459.3 million | $1.371 billion | 4th |
| 9 | Knives Out | $5.7 million | -35% | $139.6 million | $265.4 million | 7th |
| 10 | Spies in Disguise | $5.1 million | -50% | $54.6 million | $115 million | 6th |
NE = New Entry
Last Updated: January 13, 2020
Matthew Holliday
January 13, 2020 at 13:30
I regret adding my R80 or whatever it is to Star Wars’ total.
Admiral Chief
January 13, 2020 at 13:30
Why?
Matthew Holliday
January 13, 2020 at 13:36
Ignorance was bliss, hoping for a good movie was apparently too much to ask for.
Admiral Chief
January 13, 2020 at 13:52
Instead of a good movie, you got a brilliant one
Son of Banana Jim
January 13, 2020 at 16:37
Different strokes for different folks.
Son of Banana Jim
January 13, 2020 at 16:37
Different strokes for different folks.
G8crasha
January 13, 2020 at 14:49
Admittedly, it wasn’t a resounding send off for such a beloved story, but I enjoyed it, so I don’t consider my money wasted!
Son of Banana Jim
January 13, 2020 at 16:37
If there was a movie that I am dying to see it’s 1917. I enjoyed Midway over the December holidays, but the one about the Great War is the movie that I want to see. I might even go full out and make my way to Capegate.
Son of Banana Jim
January 13, 2020 at 16:37
If there was a movie that I am dying to see it’s 1917. I enjoyed Midway over the December holidays, but the one about the Great War is the movie that I want to see. I might even go full out and make my way to Capegate.