'Ralph' Reigns Over Slow Weekend at the Box Office While 'Aquaman' Dominates in China

[Glasgow]

The domestic weekend was, for the most part, as light as was expected. While it wasn't the lowest grossing weekend of the year so far, it was the second lowest with the top twelve delivering a combined $77.8 million. This is all in advance of what should be a profitable holiday season to come and we got a hint as to just how profitable it could be with the launch of WB's Aquaman in China this weekend where the film delivered a massive $93.6 million, becoming the #1 film globally from one market alone.

Beginning with the domestic box office, while it looked like it might be neck-and-neck between Disney's Ralph Breaks the Internet and Universal and Illumination's The Grinch at the top of the box office following Friday's estimates, Ralph carried the weekend as expected, though The Grinch wasn't far behind.

Ralph brought in an estimated $16.1 million for the weekend, pushing its domestic cume just over $140 million. Meanwhile, The Grinch had the second smallest drop in the top ten, dipping just -15% compared to last weekend for a $15.17 million three day and a domestic cume approaching $225 million as the holiday themed animated feature is taking full advantage of the season.

Internationally, Ralph added $18 million for a worldwide cume that currently totals $258.2 million. This weekend the film debuted in Spain with an estimated $4.6 million while China remains the feature's top market with $38.5 million so far.

As for The Grinch, it added nine markets this weekend including Mexico where it debuted with an estimated $5.2 million. Overall, the film brought in $25.9 million from overseas markets this weekend for an international cume totaling $98.9 million and a global tally reaching $322.4 million.

In third, MGM's Creed II brought in an estimated $10.3 million for a domestic cume that now stands at $96.5 million. Internationally, the film added an estimated $5.2 million from 31 overseas markets, bringing the overseas running cume to $23.2m million. The film's top market remains the UK with $8.9 million.

WB's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald dipped -40% for an estimated $6.8 million weekend for a domestic cume that now stands at $145.2 million. The film also brought in $22 million overseas this weekend for a global cume that now totals $568.5 million.

Rounding out the top five is Fox's Bohemian Rhapsody with an estimated $6 million as the drama is now just shy of $175 million domestically as it enters its sixth week in release. The film also continued its scorching performance overseas with an estimated $29.2 million this weekend for an international cume totaling $423 million and a worldwide tally that is now just $3.5 million shy of $600 million as it becomes one of the top ten worldwide releases of 2018.

Outside the top five, Universal's Green Book took advantage of its five Golden Globe nominations and recognition from the National Board of Review and American Film Institute. In fact, the film showed a fractional increase versus last weekend, bringing in an impressive $3.9 million for a domestic cume that is now just shy of $20 million. The film is currently playing in 1,181 locations nationwide.

Just outside the top ten, WB gave A Star is Born a little push this weekend, bringing it back to 1,631 theaters (+550) where it brought in an estimated $2.5 million. The film's domestic cume is now less than $3 million shy of topping $200 million. Internationally, A Star is Born has now brought in $172.6 million for a global tally just shy of $370 million.

Fox Searchlight's The Favourite delivered an estimated $1.4 million from 91 locations (+57) for a domestic cume that now totals $3.5 million. The film will expand into approximately 525 theaters beginning next weekend.