HOLLYWOOD—After all the buzz and critical talk, I would be an idiot to argue the success of “Joker” at the box-office. However, I didn’t expect a movie which was dethroned out of the top spot last week, to be nearly a few thousand dollars from claiming the top spot at the box-office over the weekend. It was a tight race, and I mean tight race for the #1 spot with moviegoers this weekend as “Joker” and “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” were just inches away between the number one and number two spots.
However, it was Joaquin Phoenix who earned the victory with $18.9 million, compared to “Maleficent’s” $18.5 million. “Joker” has already earned the highest gross ever for an R-rated movie and is expected to cross the $900 million mark on global returns in the coming weeks. I would argue we could see a sequel, but I think that would only hurt the success of the first outing.
“Mistress of Evil” has earned over $65 million at the box-office in just 2 weeks, a far cry from the amount its predecessor earned during its first week in theaters. Dropping to third place was “The Addams Family” with $11.7 million. Since its release, the animated version of “The Addams Family” has earned over $72 million at the domestic box-office. In fourth place was the horror comedy, “Zombieland: Double Tap” with $11.6 million bringing its cumulative tally to $47 million. Rounding out the top five was the horror flick “Countdown” with $9 million.
Not doing so well with audiences was the action-thriller “Black and Blue” starring Oscar-nominee Naomie Harris and Tyrese Gibson. The flick debuted in sixth place with $8.3 million. The box-office should see a burst of energy this weekend, as the latest chapter in the “Terminator” franchise, “Terminator: Dark Fate” starring Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Hamilton returning to an iconic role makes me want to see this movie that much more.
