LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is continuing its dominance over the movie galaxy as expected, outpacing three new releases. The eighth installment in the Disney-owned space saga is expected to add another nearly $69 million to its coffers over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Sony’s adventure caper “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” debuted in second place with $34 million. A pair of critically panned new musicals followed: Universal’s “Pitch Perfect 3” opened in third place with $20.4 million and Fox’s “The Greatest Showman” debuted in fourth with $8.6 million.
These three new releases collectively earned less than “The Last Jedi” since opening on Friday.
“It’s an overwhelming array of options at the movie theater, which could prove daunting to most moviegoers,” said box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of comScore. “But you’d have to be a Scrooge not to find a movie you like in this marketplace.”
Sony’s president of distribution, Adrian Smith, said he was “absolutely pleased” with the performance of “Jumanji” so far.
“It’s above our expectations,” he said. “We have incredible momentum as we head into one of the biggest movie-going weeks of the year.”
Dergarabedian said the period between Christmas and New Year’s Day is traditionally among the busiest times at the Cineplex. Families are together and theaters are brimming with blockbusters and awards-season hopefuls. Two celebrated films, “Darkest Hour” and “The Shape of Water,” expanded to hundreds more screens this weekend.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Tuesday.
1. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” $68.5 million ($75.1 million international).
2. “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” $34 million ($49.5 million international).
3. “Pitch Perfect 3,” $20.4 million ($9.8 million international).
4. “The Greatest Showman,” $8.6 million ($4.1 million international).
5. “Ferdinand,” $7 million ($21.5 million international).
6. “Coco,” $5.2 million ($13.3 million international).
7. “Downsizing,” $4.6 million.
8. “Darkest Hour,” $4.1 million.
9. “Father Figures,” $3.2 million.
10. “The Shape of Water,” $3 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:
1. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” $75.1 million.
2. “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” $49.5 million.
3. “Youth,” $34.5 million.
4. “Legend of the Demon Cat,” $33.5 million.
5. “Bleeding Steel,” $27.3 million.
6. “Ferdinand,” $21.5 million.
7. “Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds,” $21 million.
8. “The Liquidator,” $19.5 million.
9. “Coco,” $13.3 million.
10. “Pitch Perfect 3,” $9.8 million.
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Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by 21st Century Fox; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.
