Moviegoers have spoken and they’re still hungry for war but are more interested in the terrestrial dangers of World War I, as seen in Friday box office winner1917, rather than the epic space battles ofStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. DirectorSam Mendes' latest has gone into wide release here in the United States as we enter the second weekend of January and is already poised to be the big weekend winner.
1917has emerged as a late-in-the-game awards season contender across a variety of categories. It seems the buzz which has followed Mendes' WWI action dramasince critics first saw itback in November has finally hit audiences who are now getting the chance to check it out in theaters across the nation. The Universal Pictures release earned $14 million as of Friday. This total reflects the cumulative earnings for1917since it debuted in limited domestic release on December 25 with just 11 theaters showing it. That number jumped to 3,434 domestic theaters now showing the movie with a per theater average of $4,068. The film is not just a box office winner, but it’s a CinemaScore winner, too, as it currently has an A- rating.
At number two isStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerwith $3.92 million earned domestically through Friday — a 64% drop in week-to-week earnings. Further evidence ofRise of Skywalker’s waning reign at the box office is in its per theater average. As we head into the weekend, the final chapter in Lucasfilm’s epic Skywalker saga has dipped into the triple digits for the first time with a $916 per theater average.Rise of Skywalkeris still showing in a large number of theaters (4,279, to be exact), so it’s not entirely incorrect to guess that folks here in the U.S. have had their fill of Rey, Finn, Poe, and Kylo Ren.
Meanwhile, fellow new releasesLike a BossandJust Mercy, which has also gone into wide release here in the U.S., are sitting in the respective third and fourth slots in the box office chart.Like a Boss, starringRose ByrneandTiffany Haddishas budding beauty entrepreneurs who take what turns out to be a shady deal from an industry bigwig played bySalma Hayek, scooped up $3.9 million domestic. The Paramount Pictures release earned a B CinemaScore and is currently averaging $1,267 per theater with 3,078 theaters total showing it.
Just Mercyearned $3.65 million domestic through Friday. TheDestin Daniel Cretton-directed feature opened in limited domestic release on December 25 with just 4 theaters showing it but has expanded to 2,375 theaters this weekend. The A+ CinemaScore picture which is based on a true story starsMichael B. Jordanas Bryan Stevenson civil rights defense attorney seeking to free a death row inmate he believes has been wrongly convicted, played byJamie Foxx.
At number five is Sony Pictures’Jumanji: The Next Level. TheDwayne JohnsonandKevinHart-starring romp has held on tight through the wild holiday movie season so, all things considered, sitting at number five right now ain’t too shabby. The action adventure flick earned $3.3 million domestic through Friday. This new Friday total represents a 62% dip from last week. Additionally,The Next Levelis averaging $845 per theater from 3,904 theaters total.
For more on this weekends newest and hottest releases, check out ourreview of1917and be sure to check out our non-spoileryinterview withdirector Sam Mendes. If you’re leaning more towards a good, solid drama, then take a peek as ourJust Mercyreviewand read our touching, in-depthinterview with director Destin Daniel Cretton.
$13,970,000
$16,691,279
Star Wars/Rise of Skywalker
$3,920,000
$467,030,690
Like a Boss
$3,900,000
Just Mercy
$3,650,000
$4,085,988
Jumanji: The Next Level
$3,300,000
$246,424,981
