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BԪַMaleficent: Mistress of EvilBԪַ claims No. 1 over BԪַJokerBԪַ

The film starring Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning grossed an estimated $36 million in North America
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This image released by Disney shows Angelina Jolie as Maleficent in a scene from BԪַMaleficent: Mistress of Evil.BԪַ (Disney via AP)

The Walt Disney Co.BԪַs BԪַMaleficent: Mistress of EvilBԪַ knocked BԪַJokerBԪַ out of the No. 1 spot at the box office, but just barely.

Studios on Sunday say the film starring Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning grossed an estimated $36 million in North America and $117 million internationally in its first weekend in theatres. The first film had a much stronger domestic showing, opening to nearly $70 million domestically in 2014, and the sequel was expected to earn more stateside. Although

BԪַItBԪַs not as strong as we hoped domestically, but itBԪַs a good start for October and we have a great window leading into Halloween,BԪַ said Cathleen Taff, DisneyBԪַs president of theatrical distribution. BԪַMost encouraging is the fact that audiences seem to be responding very positively.BԪַ

The A CinemaScore BԪַ in contrast to the mixed critical reviews BԪַ suggests that the film could have a longer life at the box office.

Although it fell to second place after two weekends at the top, Warner Bros.BԪַ BԪַJokerBԪַ continues to hold strong at the box office. It added $29.2 million in its third weekend in North America. The villain origin story has grossed over $247 million domestically. Worldwide, itBԪַs earned $737.5 million, and has already surpassed the lifetime grosses of BԪַJustice LeagueBԪַ and BԪַSuicide Squad.BԪַ

Now the big question is whether the R-rated film will make it to $1 billion, but with a $55 million production budget, itBԪַs already a massive hit for the studio and will likely also become director Todd PhillipsBԪַ highest-grossing film too.

BԪַItBԪַs already in territory that nobody thought it would get to. ItBԪַs achieved a box office that is above the wildest expectations of the studio and analysts,BԪַ said Paul Dergarabedian, ComscoreBԪַs senior media analyst. BԪַEven if the box office stopped right now itBԪַs an absolute, unqualified success.BԪַ

Third place went to another new sequel, Columbia PicturesBԪַ BԪַZombieland: Double TapBԪַ with $26.7 million. The R-rated comedy comes 10 years after the original, reuniting Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Woody Harrelson with director Ruben Fleischer.

BԪַThree films earning over $25 million, that doesnBԪַt happen very often,BԪַ Dergarabedian noted, although the weekend is down from last year when BԪַHalloweenBԪַ opened to over $76 million.

In notable landmarks, BԪַHustlersBԪַ crossed $100 million domestically this weekend. ItBԪַs the second STX film to do so this year after BԪַThe Upside.BԪַ

And buzzy, awards-friendly indies are continuing to thrive. BԪַParasite,BԪַ which opened last weekend, added $1.2 million. This weekend, Taika WaititiBԪַs Nazi satire BԪַJojo RabbitBԪַ opened in five theatres with a strong $350,000, the black and white Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe mindbender BԪַThe LighthouseBԪַ earned $419,764 from eight theatres, and BԪַJay & Silent Bob RebootBԪַ grossed $93,520 from one screen this weekend.

But the year is still down 5% from last year.

BԪַIt was a great weekend for sequels and great weekend for indie movies,BԪַ Dergarabedian said. BԪַBut weBԪַre still struggling to get ahead of last year. WeBԪַre racing to the finish line here. WeBԪַve only got 11 weekends left to go.BԪַ

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Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Comscore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1.BԪַMaleficent: Mistress of Evil,BԪַ $36 million ($117 million international).

2.BԪַJoker,BԪַ $29.5 million ($77.8 million international).

3.BԪַZombieland: Double Tap,BԪַ $26.7 million ($5.3 million international).

4.BԪַThe Addams Family,BԪַ $16.1 million.

5.BԪַGemini Man,BԪַ $8.5 million ($33.4 million international).

6.BԪַAbominable,BԪַ $3.5 million ($9.2 million international).

7.BԪַDownton Abbey,BԪַ $3.1 million ($2.5 million international).

8.BԪַJudy,BԪַ $2.1 million ($1.3 million international).

9.BԪַHustlers,BԪַ $2.1 million ($3 million international).

10.BԪַIt: Chapter Two,BԪַ $1.5 million.

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Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theatres (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Comscore:

1. BԪַMaleficent: Mistress of Evil,BԪַ $117 million.

2. BԪַJoker,BԪַ $77.8 million.

3. BԪַGemini Man,BԪַ $33.4 million.

4. BԪַOne Piece: Stampede,BԪַ $21.9 million.

5. BԪַThe Captain,BԪַ $17.8 million.

6. BԪַAbominable,BԪַ $9.2 million.

7. BԪַMy People, My Country,BԪַ $8.4 million.

8. BԪַZombieland: Double Tap,BԪַ $5.3 million.

9. BԪַA Witness Out of the Blue,BԪַ $4.6 million.

10. BԪַA Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon,BԪַ $3.1 million.

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Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press


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