The war drama 1917 moved into wide release in its third weekend, touting that big Globes victory, and scored with an amazing haul for a serious non-franchise film with no bankable stars. The civil rights drama Just Mercy also had a successful expansion to wide release in its third weekend but that one has three movie stars to help it (Michael B Jordan and Jamie Foxx in the main roles and Brie Larson in support)
Weekend Box Office
January 10th-12th (ESTIMATES)
🔺 = new or expanding / ★ = recommended |
WIDE RELEASE (800+ screens)
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PLATFORM TITLES
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1 🔺 1917 $36.5 (cum. $39.2) GLOBE VICTORIES, TEASER ★
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1 🔺 PARASITE $966k on 345 screens (cum. $25.3) PODCAST, CLASS, BONG, SAG CAST ★ |
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3 JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL $14 (cum. $257.1)
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3 JOJO RABBIT $209k on 125 screens (cum. $21.9) TIFF WIN, PODCAST , SAG CAST ★ |
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4 🔺 LIKE A BOSS $10 *new*
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4 🔺 THE SONG OF NAMES $100k on 70 screens (cum. $307k) |
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5 🔺 JUST MERCY $10 (cum. $10.4)
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5 A HIDDEN LIFE $93k on 119 screens (cum. $1.5) REVIEW |
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7 🔺 UNDERWATER $7 *new*
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7 🔺 LES MISERABLES $24k on 4 screens *NEW* INTERVIEW, REVIEW ★ |
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10 SPIES IN DISGUISE $5.1 (cum. $54.6)
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10 CLEMENCY $13k on 10 screens (cum. $101k) INTERVIEW, REVIEW ★
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In other theatrical news Parasite is clearly banking on a big nomination tally tomorrow morning and is already re-expanding adding back 123 more screens for weekend 14. (Pain and Glory in weekend 15 re-expanded a smidgeon too). Parasite, as I think we've mentioned before, is the biggest subtitled hit in US release since Pan's Labyrinth (2006). That Guillermo Del Toro picture finished its US run with $37.6. Can Parasite top it? We'll see how much Oscar month affects the general public's awareness of it. Here in the US the Bong Joon Ho hit is #1 in both theatrically released Foreign Language Films of 2019 and theatrical releases that never went into wide release as we've shared in previous year-in-review posts.
Clemency is struggling, already dropping 54% in only its 3rd week. Turns out the holiday season was not the right time for a slow burn somber death penalty drop. Who knew, he said, sarcastically, wondering what exactly NEON was thinking since they've had this since January at Sundance. Unless a miracle Oscar nomination happens tomorrow it's likely to vanish from theaters in a week, just as its finally gotten to them.
Les Miserables is off to a semi-slow start but it's fortunes will likely pick up next weekend since it's expected to nab one of the International Feature nominations.
The biggest screen drop this week is the disastrous Cats which lost over 2000 screens in weekend #4. It's domestic cume is $26.3 million (globally $59.4) which is rough going for a film budgeted at $95 million.
Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 3:05PM 
Reader Comments (25)
Saw 1917 and loved it, almost cried at the end too.
The Clemency drop is really sad. Neon should be praised for what it did with parasite, but if a studio/distributor can’t handle getting the campaign right for a film that’s only going for an acting nomination and one that is across the board. that’s pretty sad. They also did a mediocre job with Luce, which should be an easy 4th nomination for Octavia. I wonder what would have happened if Clemency went to Sony Pictures Classic.
I saw "Knives Out" was not impressed. Rian Johnson is not Agatha Christie.
I suppose I should crow about an "adult" film like 1917 becoming a hit, but Sam Mendes is such a hack addicted to gimmicks (and sentimentality) that I prefer the worst MU film.
Are you ever going to do a review of 1917? Curious to know your thoughts.
I thought the one-shot gimmick was technically brilliant, but got in the way of the story. It was a bit distracting, but what was really off-putting for me were the main characters making some real bonehead decisions throughout the movie. I seriously threw my hands up in the theater when George Mackay just stood there watching an enemy soldier rush him for five seconds straight.
1917 - I do not get the acclaim for this film. It's inspired by "stories" and not based on actual events or individuals (?) which undercuts any kind of empathy by the viewer. The leads do a good job, but the movie plays like a video game with clichéd interludes scattered throughout. By the end, when Benedict Cumberbatch and Richard Madden show up in brief cameos, you think, what was the point of sitting through this movie? It seems kind of self-indulgent. Little Women is a much better movie.
Lost in Space - While designed for all ages, this is the best sci-fi currently available. Everyone on it is great, and if you go with it, it's pure pleasure to watch. I highly recommend it as a fun diversion from current events.
James....
I actually did cry at the end of 1917. Lol. The theater lights come on so quick! Wasn’t prepared for that
Wait... Neon had CLEMENCY since January? What in the what?! Do you think they just got (unexpectedly) too busy with PARASITE?
Anyways, I saw 1917 and thought it was great. Deakins is a master.
Cats is now officially a box office failure!
Poor Kristen Stewart.Yet another huge flop and she was doing so well a few yrs back,
Ugh, it breaks my heart that Clemency was handled so badly. This should have been released in August or September and allowed to build word of mouth. Alfre Woodard is incredible in this film.
I have no interest in seeing 1917 but I've wanted to see Clemency for a year now. I'll be so annoyed if it never comes to my city because Neon's poor release strategy caused it to flop.
I saw Little Women this evening and enjoyed every moment of it. I hope it does well in the nominations tomorrow, but even if it doesn't, Greta Gerwig and team can be proud of the film they've made.
I saw a lot of foreign films this weekend. I paid my dues to be an Indie Spirit voter, so I streamed the 4 international films I hadn't already seen. Retablo and Les Miserables are masterpieces - keep an eye out for both of them when they get general releases. Portrait of a Lady on Fire has stunning photography and excellent acting but the screenplay is a B/B- (I could definitely have lived without the abortion subplot), and Brazil's Oscar submission is good solid old-fashioned entertainment.
I saw Mexico's submission, The Chambermaid, and it belongs at the very top, with Parasite, Retablo and Les Miserables. Sad that, like Retablo, it didn't make the finals. Maybe, because it covers similar territory as Roma, there was a been there, done that feeling, which is too bad, because I think Chambermaid is the superior movie.
I also saw Little Women and Bombshell (quite the estrogen-fueled weekend, if I do say so myself). Liked the former and really really liked the latter. Don't agree with the negative criticisms at all. It's a slick, intelligent, fast-paced entertainment that goes after the right targets. Loved all four of the principals - Theron, Kidman, Lithgow and Robbie are all excellent. The SAG got it right.
I was wondering how Uncut Gems was at $40 million and not at my theatre in my Canadian city yet. I just read it’s coming on Netflix later this month. We also didn’t get Like A Boss this wknd which is wide so that’s strange. Maybe holiday movies still taking up all the screens.
I really feel like watching Cats for a second time but with a sing-a-long or with actors in the audience or something.
I'll go watch 1917 right after the nominations. All those men killing each other, no actresses... Is there a shower scene at least?
Re watched Mariage Story and love it even more (if that's possible!) Love love LOOOVE Scarlett and all the other actors in it...brilliant script and direction (Dam you DGA!!)...my only critic: I would've take waaayyyy more of always brilliant funny and sweet Meritt Weaver!
When one thinks Mendes a hack it's clear you shouldn't get to watch movies.
Tom Ford; Was that a spoiler? I pulled away just in case (in time?), but if so, come on.
And no empathy cuz not based on a true story? Goodness, so many people arguing for and against certain things and without any subjectivity...quite Trumpian.
I think I said this before but Clemency's awful campaign has made me appreciate way more what they did for The Wife last year. Was it Sony Classics?
My roommate and I saw Little Women and we both loved it. Hope it does well tomorrow also, and now I want to check out previous versions.
@Joe G: I agree 100 percent about Octavia in Luce! Should have been on the short list for supporting actress this year. And Kelvin Harrison is excellent in that film too. So unfortunate it never made an impact!
I saw "Like A Boss" today and it's a perfect example why R rated comedies are struggling these days in the movies. Lazy story-telling and sitcom-like humor ain't gonna bring folks to the theaters
Parasite hits streaming on Tuesday... Surely that will impact its box office tally (sadly)
LOL Peggy Sue- no I don't think they have time for showers in "1917" you need to watch 1950's war movies in which there was always plenty of beef cake on display