Sony Pictures is looking at box office glory all weekend long with the release ofJumanji: The Next Level. The sequel to 2017’sJumanji: Welcome to the Junglehas pocketed $19.4 million with the $4.7 million earned during Thursday previews included in the Friday total. It’s an auspicious start for the newJumanjipic, which seesDwayne Johnson,Kevin Hart,Karen Gillan,Jack Black, andNick Jonasreturning for another go-round whileAwkwafina,Danny Glover, andDanny DeVitojoining the fun.
The Next Levelcame out of the Friday box office race with some impressive numbers. Not only did it rake in $19.4 million domestically, but the movie averaged $4,590 per theater across 4,277 locations. IfThe Next Levelkeeps up this pace throughout the weekend, it could hit current projections of a $45-50 million domestic weekend. If this ends up happening,The Next Levelwill become one of the rare sequels which performs better than the first installment. Considering the Johnson/Hart onscreen combo has frequently been a draw for audiences and the fact this is a fun-as-hell sequel to a surprisingly popular reboot meansThe Next Levelhas the goods to land inside the projection range.
Speaking of sequels which are doing better than their predecessors,Frozen IIis at number two in the box office race for the first time since its premiere last month. The film dipped 44% since last week, bringing in $4.41 million domestically and bringing its domestic total up to $351.8 million. The Walt Disney Studios animated featured averaged $1,082 dollars per theater from 4,078 locations total. We’ll have the official numbers on Sunday but it looks likeFrozen IIis going to break the $1 billion mark in its global total with international sales doing the heavy lifting as it dominates in markets on nearly every continent.
The final three films in the top five slots from Friday’s box office includeRian Johnson’s popular, star-studded whodunitKnives Outas well as newcomersBlack ChristmasandRichard Jewell.Knives Outbrought in $2.65 million domestically as it enters it moves into its third weekend in theaters. The $2.65 million marks a 36% dip since last week with a per-theater average of $776 from 3,413 locations total. As forBlack ChristmasandRichard Jewell, it’s not so much the fact these two have come in fourth and fifth, respectively, in their first Fridays which should cause concern but rather, the numbers.Black Christmas, a fresh remake of the 1974 slasher pic of the same name starringImogen Poots, brought in $1.8 million for Universal. This comes out to a per-theater average of $690 with 2,625 locations accounted for. It’s unclear if the mixed reviews are the cause of the unsteady start or if folks are not in the mood for a holiday-themed slasher mixing up their festive moods. Thecontroversy-ladenRichard Jewell, directed byClint Eastwoodand focusing on the 1996 Olympics bombing where security guard Richard Jewell went from hero to villain through an incorrect narrative of his involvement in the incident, reeled in $1.5 million domestically.
For more onJumanji: The Next Level, be sure to check out ourreview of the picas well as our funinterview with director Jake Kasdan. Curious to know Christmas? Well, we’ve gotten an enlighteninginterview with director Sophia Takalto keep you entertained. And if you’re wondering what the deal is withRichard Jewell, make sure you read our reviewhere.
Jumanji: The Next Level
$19,400,000
$4,411,000
$351,771,072
Knives Out
$2,650,000
$72,327,248
Black Christmas
$1,810,000
Richard Jewell
$1,550,000
