After shatteringbox office recordslast weekend with an amazing debut of $174.4 million, nothing was expected to stand in the way of a second straight weekend win forBeauty and the Beast. The live action fairy tale adaptation squared off against three newcomers this weekend, Lionsgate’sPower Rangers, Sony’sLifeand Warner Bros.‘CHiPs, although, as expected, none of these new releases managed to come close toBeauty and the Beast. The Disney blockbuster easily won its second weekend in a row with an estimated $88.3 million.
Last weekend, this long-awaited live-action adaptation brokeBatman v Superman’s record for largest March opening ever, and it also broke records for the largest debut for a PG movie, and had the biggest IMAX debut ever for a PG film as well. While it only opened against one other movie last weekend, the R-rated thrillerThe Belko Experiment, which debuted in roughly 1/4th of the theatersBeauty and the Beastwas in, thislive-action fairy talewill have much more competition heading into its second weekend, facing Lionsgate’sPower Rangers, Sony’sLife, Warner Bros.‘CHiPsand River Rain’s sports dramaSlamma Jamma, althoughSlamma Jammaonly opened in 502 theaters, falling just short of the top 10, in 11th place with $1.6 million.
Box Office Mojoreports thatBeauty and the Beastdropped 49.4% this weekend, remaining in 4,210 theaters for an impressive $20,985 per-screen average during its second weekend in theaters. This weekend’s tally pushes its domestic gross to $316.9 million, with its worldwide haul now at $690.2 million, from a $160 million budget. Of these new releases, Sony’s sci-fi thrillerLifeis the only one that found critical approval, with a solid 67% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The long-awaitedPower Rangers remakeearned mixed reviews with just a 46% rating on RT, with theCHiPsremake only scoring a 20% rating on RT.
While coming in a distant second place, thePower Rangersremake still had an impressive showing in second place with $40.5 million, earning $10,967 per-screen average from 3,693 theaters. Directed byDean Israelite, the film starsDacre Montgomery,Naomi Scott,RJ Cyler,Becky GandLudi Linas thePower Rangersand also featuresBill Haderas Alpha 5,Bryan Cranstonas Zordon andElizabeth Banksas Rita Repulsa. The movie follows five ordinary teens who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove, and the world, is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so, they will have to overcome their real-life issues and before it’s too late, and band together as the Power Rangers.
Lifecame in far below expectations, opening in fourth place with $12.6 million, behindKong: Skull Island, which dropped to third place with $14.4 million.Lifeis a terrifying sci-fi thriller about a team of scientists aboard the International Space Station whose mission of discovery turns to one of primal fear when they find a rapidly evolving life form that caused extinction on Mars, and now threatens the crew and all life on Earth. The film starsJake Gyllenhaal,Rebecca Ferguson,Ryan Reynolds,Hiroyuki Sanada,Ariyon Bakare, andOlga Dihovichnaya. It is directed byDaniel Espinosa, written byRhett Reese&Paul Wernick, and produced byDavid Ellison,Dana Goldberg,Bonnie CurtisandJulie Lynn. Executive producers areDon GrangerandVicki Dee Rock.
Warner Bros.’ theatrical reboot of the hit TV seriesCHiPsdebuted in seventh place with $7.6 million. Jon Baker and Frank “Ponch” Poncherello have just joined the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Los Angeles but for very different reasons. Baker is a beaten up pro motorbiker trying to put his life and marriage back together.Poncherellois a cocky undercover Federal agent investigating a multi-million dollar heist that may be an inside job-inside the CHP. The inexperienced rookie and hardened pro are teamed together, but clash more than click, so kickstarting a partnership is easier said than done. But with Baker’s bike skills combined with Ponch’s street savvy it might just work…if they don’t drive each other crazy along the way.
The top 10 is rounded out byKong: Skull Island($14.4 million),Life($12.6 million),Logan($10.1 million),Get Out$8.6 million),CHiPs($7.6 million),The Shack($3.7 million),The LEGO Batman Movie($1.9 million) andThe Belko Experiment($1.8 million). Also opening in limited release this weekend will be Fox Searchlight’sWilson, which earned $330,000 from 310 theaters for a paltry $1,065 per-screen average, while Submarine Deluxe’s documentaryI Call Him Morganearned $14,154
from one theater and FIP’s romantic comedyPhillauriearned $265,000 from 74 theaters for a $3,581 per-screen average. No box office data was given for Monterey Media Inc’s dramaThe Levelingand FIP’s romantic comedyPhillauri. There isn’t any indication yet if any of these limited release films will be expanding in the weeks and months ahead.
Looking ahead to next weekend, Paramount will bring its live-action adaptation of the beloved manga seriesGhost in the Shellto theaters, which will go up against DreamWorks Animation’sThe Boss Baby. Also opening in limited release will beThe Blackcoat’s Daughter,Carrie Pilby,Here Alone,Despite the Falling Snow,Here Alone,Live CargoandGod Knows Where I Am. Take a look at the box office estimates for the weekend of March 24, and check back on Tuesday for the next wave of predictions.
