The hit animated sequelKung Fu Panda 3ended the first month of 2016 on a high note at thebox office, taking in $48 million in its opening weekend. In the first frame of February, this adventure will face three new movies, Universal’sHail, Caesar!, Sony’sPride and Prejudice and Zombiesand Lionsgate’sThe Choice. As expected, none of these new releases could beatKung Fu Panda 3, which won for a second weekend in a row with an estimated $21 million.
The animated sequelKung Fu Panda 3currently has a solid 80% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it opened in 3,955 theaters, which will still make it the widest release in theaters this weekend, by a long-shot.Kung Fu Panda 3marks the return of one of the most successful animated franchises in the world, with its biggest comedy adventure yet. When Po’s (Jack Black) long-lost panda father (Bryan Cranston) suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters. But when the supernatural villain Kai (Mads Mikkelsen) begins to sweep across China defeating all the kung fu masters, Po must do the impossible-learn to train a village full of his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of Kung Fu Pandas! The voice cast is rounded out byAngelina Jolie,Seth Rogen,Lucy Liu,Dustin Hoffman,David Cross,James HongandKate Hudson.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombieshad the highest rollout among the new releases with an estimated 2,931 theaters, followed byThe Choicewith 2,631 theaters andHail, Caesar!in 2,232 theaters. Despite opening in the least amount of theaters,Hail, Caesar!took second place with $11.4 million, followed by holdoversThe Revenantwith $7.1 million,Star Wars: The Force Awakenswith $6.8 million andThe Choicerounding out the top five with $6 million.Pride and Prejudice and Zombiesopened in sixth place with $5.2 million. At this time,Pride and Prejudice and Zombiescurrently has a 41% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, withThe Choicegetting a dismal 8%, although the critics were quite pleased withHail, Caesar!, which has a solid 79% Fresh rating on RT.
Four-time Oscar-winning filmmakersJoel CoenandEthan Coenwrite and directHail, Caesar!, an all-starcomedyset during the latter years of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The story follows a single day in the life of a studio fixer who is presented with plenty of problems to fix. The ensemble cast includesJosh Brolin,George Clooney,Ralph Fiennes,Tilda Swinton,Channing Tatum,Scarlett Johansson,Jonah HillandFrances McDormand.
InPride and Prejudice and Zombies, a zombie outbreak has fallen upon the land in Jane Austen’s classic tale of the tangled relationships between lovers from different social classes in 19th century England. Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) is a master of martial arts and weaponry and the handsome Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley) is a fierce zombie killer, yet the epitome of upper class prejudice. As the zombie outbreak intensifies, they must swallow their pride and join forces on the blood-soaked battlefield. The supporting cast includesBella Heathcote,Jack Huston,Douglas Booth,Emma Greenwell,Matt Smith,Lena HeadeyandCharles Dance.
The Choicetells the story of Travis Parker (Benjamin Walker) and Gabby Holland (Teresa Palmer), who meet first as neighbors in a small coastal town and end up pursuing a relationship that neither could have foreseen. Spanning a decade and tracing the evolution of a love affair that is ultimately tested by life’s most defining events, this story features a memorable ensemble of friends and family inNicholas Sparks' beloved North Carolina setting, culminating in the question that every couple must ask themselves: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive? The supporting cast includesMaggie Grace,Alexandra Daddario,Tom WellingandTom Wilkinson.
Rounding out the top 10 isPride and Prejudice and Zombies($5.2 million),The Finest Hours($4.7 million),Ride Along 2($4.5 million),The Boy($4.08 million) andDirty Grandpa($4.05 million). This weekend also marked another milestone forStar Wars: The Force Awakens, which became the first movie to cross $900 million domestic. It currently stands at $905.9 million domestic and $2.008 billion worldwide. The film dropped 809 theaters last weekend, and another 294 theaters this weekend, bringing its theater count to 2,262 this weekend. This may be the blockbuster’s final weekend in the top five, but we’ll have to wait and see how long it will take to get knocked out of the top 10 Also opening in limited release isRegression, starringEmma WatsonandEthan Hawke, which earned a horrid $31,000 from 100 theaters, for a paltry $310 per-screen average. No box office data was released forTumbledownstarringJason SudeikisandRebecca Hall.
Looking ahead to next weekend, 20th Century Fox’s highly-anticipatedDeadpoolwill go up against a pair of comedy’s, Paramount’sZoolander 2and Warner Bros.‘How to Be Single. Also opening in limited release is the horror anthology Southbound, Touched with Fire,Providence,Of Mind and MusicandFitor. Be sure to check back on Sunday for the box office estimates, and again next Tuesday for our predictions. Until then, take a look at the top 10 for the weekend of February 5.
