Warner Bros. Pictures’ The LEGO Batman Movie won the domestic box office this weekend with an estimated $55.6 million from 4,088 theaters, an average of $13,608 per location. While it doesn’t match the $69 million the LEGO Movie opened to in February of 2014, it’s a great start for a film that cost $80 million to make. The LEGO Batman Movie also opened in 60 international markets this weekend, grossing $37 million from 14,500 screens, for a worldwide total of $92.6 million. Receiving an A- CinemaScore from audiences, the Chris McKay-directed film features the voices of Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, and Ralph Fiennes.
Opening in second place was Fifty Shades Darker (Universal Pictures), which grossed $46.8 million from 3,710 theaters, an average of $12,614. Fifty Shades Darker received a B+ CinemaScore and trailed far behind Fifty Shades of Grey‘s opening of $85 million in 2015, though it was made for just $55 million. Fifty Shades Darker debuted at No. 1 internationally with an estimated box office of $100.1 million in 57 territories, for a worldwide total of $146.9 million. It is the fourth-biggest opening weekend ever for an R-rated film internationally, behind Fifty Shades of Grey, Deadpool and The Matrix Revolutions. Directed by James Foley, the adaptation of the E L James novel stars Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson, Bella Heathcote, Eric Johnson, Robinne Lee, Fay Masterson, Tyler Hoechlin, Hugh Dancy, Kim Basinger, Luke Grimes, Eloise Mumford, Max Martini, Rita Ora and Marcia Gay Harden.
Third place belonged to John Wick: Chapter 2, which grossed $30 million from 3,113 theaters, an average of $9,645. The film< grossed $10.6 million overseas from 41 markets. The first film opened to just $14.4 million domestically in October of 2014 on its way to $86 million worldwide. John Wick: Chapter 2 received an A- CinemaScore. The Chad Stahelski-directed sequel stars Keanu Reeves, Common, Laurence Fishburne, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ruby Rose, Lance Reddick, Bridget Moynahan, Franco Nero, John Leguizamo and Ian McShane.
M. Night Shyamalan’s Split (Universal) dropped down to fourth place after three-straight wins with $9.3 million, to take its four-week total to $112.3 million. The thriller has earned $57.1 million overseas and worldwide is at $169.4 million. Writer/director/producer Shyamalan again teamed with Jason Blum and his Blumhouse Productions, following the same low-budget model to provide Shyamalan creative filmmaking freedom. Made for just $9 million, Split stars James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Jessica Sula, and Haley Lu Richardson.
Rounding out the top five was 20th Century Fox’s Hidden Figures, which added $8 million its eighth week in theaters. Costing just $25 million to make, the film has now earned $131.5 million domestically. Directed by Theodore Melfi, Hidden Figures stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell and Kevin Costner.
Universal’s A Dog’s Purpose dropped three spots to sixth with $7.4 million its third weekend an a total of $42.6 million. Produced by Amblin Entertainment and Walden Media, the Lasse Hallstrom-directed film features Britt Robertson, KJ Apa, John Ortiz, Dennis Quaid and Josh Gad. A Dog’s Purpose cost $22 million to make.
Falling to seventh place, Paramount sequel Rings made just $5.8 million its second weekend for a domestic total of $21.5 million. Made for $25 million, the F. Javier Gutierrez-directed film stars Matilda Lutz, Vincent D’Onofrio, Johnny Galecki, Laura Wiggins, Aimee Teegarden, Alex Roe, and Bonnie Morgan. The Ring earned a total $129 million domestically and $249 million worldwide in 2002, while The Ring Two grossed $76.2 million domestically and $161.5 million worldwide.
Damien Chazelle’s Golden Globe winner and Oscar-nominated La La Land (Lionsgate) earned $5 million its tenth weekend in theaters. The musical has earned $126 million so far. La La Land, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, was made for just $30 million.
Also, Paramount’s xXx: Return of Xander Cage opened to an impressive $61.9 million in China this weekend. In North America, the film has grossed just $42 million since opening on January 20, but the worldwide sum now stands at $186 million. D.J. Caruso directed the sequel, starring Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, Conor McGregor, Tony Jaa, Deepika Padukone, Nina Dobrev, Ruby Rose, Toni Collette, Donnie Yen, Ariadna Gutierrez, and Ice Cube.
Illumination and Universal Pictures’ Sing crossed the $500 million mark at the worldwide box office this weekend. The estimated three-day North American total of $1.63 million brings the North American total to $265.34 million, and Sing has grossed an estimated $235.5 million internationally, bringing its worldwide total to $500.8 million. It still has to open in China on February 17, in Russia on March 2, and in Japan on March 17.
