A couple of recent survey-based reports have cited one of the reasons for people not returning to cinemas since covid is that they want to see more original material coming out of Hollywood. Despite that, 8 of the weekend’s top 10 titles here were either franchise titles or remakes, and one of the remaining two (Pixar’s Elio) is already being tipped as having strong potential for further exploitation across a number of media and platforms.
This week saw the return of a much-remade title, Superman, in the #1 spot, having taken $1,331,626 including previews at the end of its opening weekend.
The previous weekend’s #1, Jurassic World Rebirth, became this weekend’s #2. It added three screens to play on 112 and earned $923,110, lifting its gross to $3,260,118.
Also dropping down one spot,to #3, F1 The Movie took $526,280 for a total of $3,471,663.
The Gerard Johnstone-directed M3gan2.0 continued its fairly rapid decline, down to #23 and taking only $6,620 for a gross of $197,702.
Kōkā took $5,386 for a total of $216,403.
Tinā collected $4,251 to lift its total to $6,436,708. This week it was announced for a US theatrical release at the end of August. We also saw a report last week that it was now in the top 5 all-time NZ films, but haven’t been able to confirm that. Per Flicks, it’s still about $60K short of Whale Rider’s #5 spot on the best local earners list.
Close to the end of their runs, Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua – Two Worlds added $970 from a couple of screens, for total takings of $228,984; while The People We Love added $874, also from 2 screens, for a $42,590 gross.
A Minecraft Movie took $174 from 4 screens, for $10,006,681. For those looking for their next Jason Momoa fix, Chief of War (also shot in NZ) has released a trailer.
James & Isey had a single-screen outing, taking $27.
Titles opening this week include the fourth iteration of I Know What You Did Last Summer, all of which have contributed to Jennifer Love Hewitt’s retirement fund, and Joshua Prendeville’s doco about Dame Fiona Kidman, The House Within.
Thanks, as always, go to Numero for providing the data that powers our box office reporting.
