Elsewhere, ‘Parasite’ feasts on its Oscar victory while fellow specialty pic ‘Downhill’ crashes.
Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog made a loud boom at the Presidents Day box office with a three-day domestic opening of $ 61 million, a record for a video game adaptation. The film’s projected four-day gross of $ 68 million is among the best showings ever for the long holiday weekend, which coincided this year with Valentine’s Day.
Until now, 1177632 ‘s Pokemon Detective Pikachu boasted the top North American opening for a video game adaptation with a three-day start of $ 54. 3 million, not adjusted for inflation.
Overseas, Sonic the Hedgehog launched to a strong $ 48 million from its first markets for a global bow of $ million through Sunday, and $ million through Monday. Top markets included Mexico ($ 6.7 million). The U.K. followed with $ 6.2 million.
The $ 90 million film – which nabbed an A CinemaScore – is based on the popular Sega video game and sees the titular character (voiced by Ben Schwartz) team up with a small-town sheriff (James Marsden) to battle the evil genius Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey).
The movie’s better-than-expected debut is a big win for Paramount and director Jeff Fowler, who redesigned the character after a loud outcry from fans even though it meant pushing the film’s release date.
Sonic quashed its next closet rival, Warner Bros. and DC’s Birds of Prey , which fell to No. 2 in its second weekend with an estimated $ (million and $) million for the four days. The troubled superhero pic tumbled 48 percent, a steep drop for a holiday weekend, to finish Monday with a domestic total of $ . 7 million. Internationally, it took in $ million in its sophomore outing for a foreign tally of $ . 6 million.
Sony and the Blumhouse-produced Fantasy Island , a horror reimagining of the classic television series of the same name, opened in third place with an estimated $ 14. 4 million for the three days and $ 15 million for the four despite getting slapped with a C- CinemaScore.
Universal and producer Will Packer’s The Photograph followed in fourth place with a three day opening of $ 3 million and projected four-day gross of $ 4 million. The romantic drama – timed to Valentine’s Day – stars Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield, and was written and directed by Stella Meghie. The $ million film received a B CinemaScore.
After Sonic the Hedgehog , the weekend’s other big headline was (Bong Joon Ho’s and Neon’s) (Parasite) , which feasted on its top Oscar wins by grossing a huge $ 5.5 million for the three days – its biggest weekend to date – and an estimated $ 6.7 million for the four.
The specialty film, which first opened in select theaters in early October, moved up the the chart to No. 7 as it expanded its theater count to 2, 11 sites, its widest footprint to date. Parasite US total through Monday is an estimated $ 54. 3 million, one of the best showings of all time for a foreign-language film.
Parasite even beat new specialty pic Downhill , starring Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. From Searchlight, Downhill opened to $ 4.7 million for the three days and $ 5.2 million for the four days after flunking with a D CinemaScore from audiences. The black comedy, which made its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last month, opted to open nationwide in 2, cinemas, versus a limited release.
Elsewhere, Bad Boys for Life rounded out the top five with $ . 3 million for the three days and an estimated $ 14. 8 for the four, putting the pic’s worldwide total at a dazzling $ 823 million through Monday.
Sam Mendes’ 1278373 followed in the sixth place with an estimated $ 8.1 million for the three and $ 9.4 million for the four. Overseas, the Amblin and Universal release took in another $ 17. 6 million as it marched past the $ . 1 million mark internationally for a global total of roughly $ million. (The movie’s stellar global cume helps to ease the sting of losing the Oscar best picture race to Parasite )
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