'Kung Fu Panda' drop-kicks box office newcomers
Kung Fu Panda 3 karate-chopped the competition in its second week out.
The animated family adventure won the Super Bowl weekend with $21 million at the box office, according to studio estimates from tracking firm comScore. Boasting a star-studded voice cast of Jack Black, Kate Hudson and Bryan Cranston, the well-received sequel has earned $69 million in just 10 days of release.
The secret world of 'Kung Fu Panda' creation
"It's all about timing, and Kung Fu Panda took advantage of that opening last weekend, with very few options for families at the multiplex in 2016, as far as something brand-new," says comScore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "Another big boost for the movie was Super Bowl weekend. A lot of people are trying to get their moviegoing out of the way Friday and Saturday before the game, and what better weekend to take the kids out and satisfy their entertainment?"
Joel and Ethan Coen's Hail, Caesar! made its debut in second place with an OK $11.4 million in 2,200 theaters. The Old Hollywood comedy didn't open as strongly nationwide as the brothers' past successes True Grit ($24.8 million in 2010) and Burn After Reading ($19.1 million, 2008), but it performed about on par with their The Ladykillers ($12.6 million, 2004).
Who's who in Coens' 'Hail, Caesar!' Hollywood
Caesar stars George Clooney as a kidnapped A-lister and has a megawatt ensemble including Josh Brolin, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill and Scarlett Johansson. It earned generally positive reviews from critics (79% approval on RottenTomatoes.com) but a less favorable 48% from audiences.
Its weekend haul meets expectations, Dergarabedian says. "The Coen brothers are a name brand with a solid following, but their collective box office is not massive. It's a star-studded spectacle and a movie like this has long-term playability."
Lily James turns undead killer in 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies'
Holdovers The Revenant and Star Wars: The Force Awakens continued to astound, landing in third and fourth place, respectively. Riding a wave of 12 Oscar nominations and multiple wins this awards season for star Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant earned another $7.1 million in its seventh weekend, bringing its tally to $149.7 million. Force Awakens, meanwhile, brought in an additional $6.9 million for a record-breaking $906 million total in North America and more than $2 billion worldwide, the third film ever to cross that mark.
In fifth place, Nicholas Sparks' adaptation The Choice couldn't muster much heat, netting only $6.1 million. The weepy romance starring Benjamin Walker and Teresa Palmer pulled an abysmal 8% positive reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, although it earned a much more forgiving 65% from audiences. It comes in slightly behind other Sparks' romances, including last year's The Longest Ride ($13 million) and The Best of Me in 2014 ($10 million).
Q&A: 'The Choice' stars talk breakups, 'Netflix and chill'
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was dead on arrival, croaking with a mere $5.2 million for No. 6. Starring Cinderella's Lily James, the poorly reviewed thriller is an adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith's supernatural parody novel, which mashes up Jane Austen's 1813 classic with the undead.
Final numbers are expected Monday.