What did you see over the weekend?
Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 5:57PM by Nathaniel R
| Weekend Box Office Estimates (August 24-26) |
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| W I D E 800+ screens |
PLATFORM / LIMITED excluding prev. wide |
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| 1. CRAZY RICH ASIANS $25 (cum. $76.8) Review, Michelle Yeoh |
1. 🔺 PAPILLON $1.1 on 544 screens *NEW* |
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| 2. THE MEG $13 (cum. $105.3) Review |
2. 🔺 PUZZLE $372k on 265 screens (cum. $1.2) |
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| 3. 🔺 HAPPYTIME MURDERS $10 *NEW* |
3. 🔺 SEARCHING $360k on 9 screens *NEW* |
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| 4. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE -FALLOUT $8 (cum. $193.9) Review, Podcast |
4. THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS $310k on 221 screens (cum. $11.1) Review |
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| 5. CHRISTOPHER ROBIN $6.3 (cum. $77.6) Review |
5. 🔺 JULIET, NAKED $250k on 43 screens (cum. $344k) |
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| 6.MILE 22 $6 (cum. $25.1) |
6. 🔺 THE WIFE $217k on 18 screens (cum. $380k) Review, Poster Blurb & Glenn's Oscar |
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| 7. ALPHA $5.6 (cum. $20.1) |
7. 🔺 MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST $120k on 85 screens (cum. $618k) Podcast, Interview |
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| 8. BLACK KLANSMAN $5.3 (cum. $32) Review, Podcast, Spike Lee's Career |
8. 🔺 BLAZE $51k on 7 screens (cum. $104k) |
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| 9. 🔺 A.X.L. $2.9 *NEW* |
9. 🔺MCQUEEN $49k on 51 screens (cum. $1.1) Review |
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| 10. SLENDER MAN $2.7 (cum. $25.4) | 10. 🔺WE THE ANIMALS $48k on 12 screens (cum. $138k) Review, Interview |
| 🔺 = new or expanding theater count numbers (in millions unless otherwise noted) from box office mojo |
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The second weekend of Crazy Rich Asians proved that that opening weekend was no fluke. It fell only 5% in its second weekend which is extremely rare. Expect major legs, repeat business, and a big final gross. The other movie getting good news this weekend was the cyber-thriller Searching (the weekend's biggest per screen average by far, boding well for its expansion to wide release next weekend) starring John Cho. The other new releases struggled to find their audience.
Next week is the last official weekend of what constitutes Hollywood's "summer," at the box office. And then it'll be fall film season which means awards season is right around the corner. Yipee!
Last Chance? McQueen and The Spy Who Dumped Me both lost nearly half of their screens this weekend, so if you've been putting them off, this is the week. Hereditary, now A24's top grosser globally (though it still trails Lady Bird domestically), is at just 23 theaters now so this is your last chance to see Toni Colette's big disturbing performance on the big screen. It arrives on DVD and Blu-Ray September 4th. Also on the way out of theaters: Leave No Trace, Sorry to Bother You, and Blindspotting.
WHAT DID YOU SEE OVER THE WEEKEND?
I went to Happytime Murders, a rep screening of Larry Clark's Bully (2001), and at home caught the Netflix gay romcom Alex Truelove, the insane season (series?) finale of Harlots, and caught up with Castle Rock which I've been lukewarm on beyond the very talented cast. Castle Rock's most recent episode "The Queen" was entirely about Sissy Spacek's character (no B plots!) and it was great to see her major talent front and centered again with something meaty to play. This was the best episode yet, and it probably helped that it was the only episode that's truly aimed for something specific instead of being basically a collection of scenes with multiple storythreads, some more intriguing then others. I could easily see Spacek being nominated next Emmy season. You?
Reader Comments (38)
I'm going to watch What's Up Doc tonight.
Did some retro screenings (AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, (for the very first time!) and the Jimmy Stewart-Marlene Dietrich comedy western DESTRY RIDES AGAIN) as well as a Guatemalan film SEPTEMBER, A SILENT CRY, and a homegrown (Australian) WEST OF SUNSHINE.
"BlacKkKlansman" earlier in the week and was underwhelmed. I expected something more daring and dangerous from Spike than this slick, audience-pleasing pander. It's overlong and not particularly inspired either formally or in terms of storytelling. Some scenes are terrific - the Kwame speech and Belafonte's appearance especially - but I wish they were embedded in a more uncompromising and challenging vision.
HEREDITARY, which I found just fine. Apart from the fierce, hypnotic performances from Toni Collete and Alex Wolff and the brilliant score, not much else met the hype. It's an ok horror film that benefits from a solid script and committed actors.
I watched the unstoppable Rosetta and the entertaining Trial, with Arthur Kennedy on delicious and Oscar-nominated form as a shrewd, fundraising Communist lawyer.
I caught up with BlacKkKlansman and Crazy Rich Asians, both of which I enjoyed. I kind of agree with Jonathan's post on BlacKkKlansman, though I liked it a bit more and found the ending in particular to be really moving. Crazy Rich Asians delivered exactly what I expected and I had a great time watching it. The theater was packed.
I had a catch-up weekend at the cinema. BlacKkKlansman was better than I expected - funny, powerful and moving, with great performances from Washington and Driver.
LEAVE NO TRACE is a must-see. Ben Foster should be winning all the awards this year and Debra Granik should automatically receive whatever funding she needs to make a new film every year or so; something is seriously wrong with the system if she has to wait 8 years between projects, after WINTER'S BONE.
I watched I FEEL PRETTY at home, which was disappointing except for Michelle Williams. I think it was /3rtful who I first saw mention how good she was in this - it's a shame small comedic performances like this aren't talked about for Supporting awards so much anymore.
And finally, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT, which I was pleased to catch on the big screen. The stunts and action were amazing and I will be very sorry if it misses out on a nomination for Popular Achievement in Filmmaking (or Best Popular Film or whatever). It would be nice to see this series finally get some love from the Academy.
I caught:
Puzzle-Sweet, kind, heavier-than-expected, and proof that Macdonald is one of the best actors working & I wish would get her Tumbleweeds or Frozen River soon.
Men in Black II & III-I saw the first one last weekend for the first time in a while and wanted to give the sequels a shot again. The second one is as convoluted and "too much money" as I remembered, though the third film was better than I had recalled (Brolin's great), even if the last fifteen minutes either needed to be doubled or eliminated entirely.
Christopher Robin-A thoughtful, predictable movie featuring some of the most beloved characters in children's literature, so it's hard to knock it even if this is territory we've seen before (even from this director).
I saw "The Meg" which was better than expected. The first part is specially good. A solid creature feature movie which looses steam once the monster is revealed.
Tully. Loved it. Hated it when the 'outfit incident' happened midway through, but when all became apparent loved it again. Theron is outstanding.
Ocean's Eight. Really a whole load of nothing, although Hathaway was fun.
Where is Kyra? Pretty great, and Pfeiffer is excellent. Was taken aback by how much it took its time (in a good way), and Pfeiffer's close-ups were fantastic.
Also watched Beetlejuice for the first time, and it left me feeling weirdly empty inside.
BlacKkKlansman - the trailer made it look like it would be more comedic in tone so I was disappointed to see more of a straight drama. John David Washington did not have the screen prescence or charisma to succesfully pull off this role, but I will say the rest of the cast was great. The final portion of the movie tying together the movies themes with the protests in Charlottesville last year was very powerful and left me in tears.
Mission Impossible - Fallout - great action sequences (particularly the fight scene sequence in the washroom), tight editing (although a bit long), and another commited performace from Tom Cruise. Rebecca Ferguson continues to compel as a screen prescence; you cannot take your eyes off her when she's on camera. Not as much humour this time around which I feel is needed in a big action movie like this. Having said all that, it is nowhere near "the best action movie ever" as some reviews claim (Mad Max: Fury Road still holds that title in my opinion).
Glad to see The Wife with 380k on box office in 18 cinemas and two weeks running. I really hope it become a hit and help Glenn receive her well deserved Oscar!
"Juliet, Naked" is really lovely and is already underrated. I'd rank it higher than "Hearts Beat Loud" in the 2018 race amongst quiet, music-themed dramedies.
FINALLY saw The Wife. I had my doubts about the hype. But it's all entirely true ... this is the best work she has done in ... a decade? Two decades? I'm all in for the Oscar for Glenn. This would be one of this "finally!" wins that is actually deserving.
I also watched Tully. It had some great moments. And Charlize is really great ... as usual. Too bad the movie didn't seem to catch fire.
I saw SEARCHING on Saturday and you guys... you have to see this film. The trailer makes it seem like a really tense horror-kind of film. But the actual film is less intense and more emotionally grounded. Cho is really, really good in it and the twists and turns the story take were great. It makes total sense this won an Audience Award at Sundance. The audience I saw it with were rapt with attention.
Then today I saw CRAZY RICH ASIANS a 2nd time taking my parents with me. We all loved it. Hope it keeps making money!
Re-watches of Fun with Dick & Jane and Classic Albums: Peter Gabriel-So and first-timers in Polytechnique and a couple of short films by Denis Villeneuve.
I watched lThe Human Condition 1 and 2. For some levity I watched Nashrikayt: Yiddish Life in Krakow.
I should watch Crazy Rich Asians but I can't watch any new movies until Just For Laughs is over.
Finally saw Hereditary and Toni definitely carries the movie. It's hard not to compare her performance to so many of her other fine performances and feel like it's her best work. But still better than most other actors could dream of.
I'll echo the love for Searching and specifically for Cho. It's kind of amazing what he pulls off considering so much of the movie rests on his reactions. The movie is a terrific thriller.
In theaters: SUPPORT THE GIRLS (quite liked it, Regina Hall & Haley Lu Richardson were amazing) and PAPILLON (loved the chemistry between Charlie Hunnam & Rami Malek’s characters).
At home: NASHVILLE (wonderful), BILOXI BLUES (enjoyed it) and PLAZA SUITE (didn’t care too much for the characters).
Rewatched The Virgin Suicides, Dancer in the Dark, Being John Malkovich, The Third Man and Some Like It Hot. It was a good weekend. :)
I'm glad other people are disappointed in BlacKkKlansman. The most overrated movie so far this year.
I was able to watch The Miseducation of Cameron Post. I wish it was longer ... it was a very good film but I thought something was missing to make it great. It would make an incredible tv show as so many characters were so intriguing yet never fully developed in 90 minutes.
I caught Crazy Rich Asians and thoroughly enjoyed it!
However the ending credits made me cringe and have flashbacks to your annual SAG Ensemble Rules expose. Harry Shum Jr.'s mid credits blink and you'll miss it setting up for the sequel cameo will earn him an Ensemble nomination over actual cast members. Really disgraceful imo.
I caught The Miseducation of Cameron Post and enjoyed it. It was oddly educational, as I had no idea how conversion therapy works, and I am aghast that they are permitted to operate schools when they clearly are not qualified to do so (but I am aghast at a lot of lax educational licensing). I hope the two films released this year about conversion therapy will start a movement to ban it in the US, and I think examining their credentials to operate schools could be a start.
I also caught up on some 1972 films... The Poseidon Adventure (ugh... did they hire Shelley Winters just to make her weight a plot point?), Lady Sings the Blues (very dated, but Diana Ross was impressive), and best of all, The Emigrants (why don't more people discuss this movie? It is incredible).
Saw Blackkklansman on Friday. I liked it but there is a HUGE plot hole near the end. Without delving into spoiler territory, why didn't Felix recognize a certain security guard at the KKK meeting near the end of the film?!
CRAZY RICH ASIANS
Yeoh's marvelous work aside, I wasn't really all that enamored with it.
Haven't had time to see anything new in the cinema but just been keeping up with the regular weekly television programming and I will continue to say Sharp Objects (haven't seen finale yet) & Insecure are spectacular all around. Carrie Coon is killing it on The Sinner a show that I've taken up on it's second season because she is a greater improvement on the rather average actress Jessica Biel (She's great in Ulee's Gold but nothing since has had me impressed) Also Castle Rock was a show I was meh on but the Sissy episode was truly something great. I wasn't shocked because Queen Spacek when given the material rocks (shout out to her scene-stealing work in The Help since it's 7 year anniversary was recently celebrated.)
I've also been watching Younger as usual and while I've found this season mixed this latest episode which featured theatre goddesses Martha Plimption and Miriam Shor performing the opening of Cabaret was great and really made me love the show again.
After watching LEAVE NO TRACE, I will sign a petition for Granik to direct movies about young girls living in the woods until she's so old she can't direct a movie.
Thomasin McKenzie is SPECTACULAR. Kinda reminded me of Jennifer Lawrence in her "Winter's Bone" performance, but with something more fluid/natural. Can't explain, but she's my personal favorite contender for a Best Actress nomination. Fingers crossed
I don't know why you haven't paid more attention to "Blindspotting," which I saw this weekend, and is brilliant -- should be part of a future movie festival trilogy with "Get Out" and "Sorry to Bother You" -- brilliant, funny, wonderfully scripted and acted, moving films about race and social justice.
Saw Tully which I loved. Everything - the writing (Cody has reigned in her quirks to great effect), acting, editing, score, etc. - worked so well. One of my faves of the year.
Crazy Rich Asians - fun and frothy. Saw it with a packed audience on a Sunday afternoon and it was everything I needed it to be, although I don't understand the Supporting Actress push for Yeoh on this site. She was fine but that's it. And hello, Henry Golding! I hope he gets a lot more work and soon. I know some people are pushing for him to be the next Bond and I get it.
@Jonathan : I struggled to find the right words in english to express my mixed feelings about the last Spike Lee joint ... And you just did it for me !
A nice, consensual, entertaining movie without real character development or dramatic tension ... Sometimes it almost felt like a comedy from the Coen Brothers, the Klan men being shown as stupid people, but never dangerous ....
Suzanne: I recently saw The Emigrants for the first time and thought it was very good. I'm looking forward to seeing the continuation of the story in The New Land. (I have the Criterion double bill.)
Saw Crazy Rich Asians, which I liked but didn't love, although I did love many things about it. The last act is just spectacular - a perfect rom-com ending. But it kind of meanders in the middle and the leads are bland. Thank God everyone around them is full to bursting with personality. I LOVED the mahjong scene and how it made absolutely no attempt to explain what was going on, trusting the audience to get it on their own.
Later that night, after getting drunk with some friends, I decided there wouldn't be a better time to see The Happytime Murders, and I'm thrilled to say I was right. I make no judgments on the movie's quality, but I will say that while drunk at an almost-midnight screening, it plays like gangbusters. I laughed my ass off and had an absolute blast.
Suzanne: I've asked the same question about The Emigrants myself. It's been a favorite of mine ever since I first saw it and has remained so after 3 or 4 more viewings over the years. (That's a lot for me, I'm not a compulsive re-watcher) In fact, while everyone else is debating The Godfather vs. Cabaret for 1972, my vote goes to the Emigrants in all 4 categories without hesitation.
The Emigrants should also have won Best Foreign Film the year before and its continuation, The New Land, should have won in 1972.
Suzanne & Ken -- i think the reason is that it's been hard to find for a long time. I understand it's now on Criterion but I remember looking for it in previous years and not being able to find it.
Suzanne, Ken & Nathaniel - Bjorn and Benny from ABBA wrote a magnificent musical based on the four EMIGRANTS novels. In Swedish, the musical is Kristina från Duvemåla and the score is beautiful.
It's never had a proper run in English, but there was a concert event in English in 2009 at Carnegie Hall which was released on CD and I remember reports that Meryl was an enthusiastic supporter at the concert.
I saw 2001: A Space Odyssey for the first time. I was holding my first viewing until I could see it in theatres and I FINALLY got the chance. I saw it in IMAX and wow. Staggering masterpiece. I am wrecked.