Box Office: ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Repeats No. 1 on Friday
“Power Rangers” is the new superhero film on the block, but “Beauty and the Beast” still has the most guests.
The Disney live-action adaptation starring Emma Watson grabbed an additional $23.5 million on Friday night from 4,210 theaters. After conquering box office records in its first frame, the movie could capture an additional $90 million by the end of its second weekend, which would put its domestic total well above $300 million. Its global total after Friday also waltzed past the $500 million milestone.
Lionsgate’s “Power Rangers,” meanwhile, morphed to $15 million of Friday from 3,693 theaters. The reboot of the popular ’90s TV show should land solidly in second this weekend with over $40 million.
The other two major openings — Sony’s “Life” starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Gosling, and Warner Bros.’ “CHIPS” from Dax Shepard — are showing moderate-to-low interest from theater-goers. On Friday, the former made $4.3 million from 3,146 spots, while the latter caught $2.6 million from 2,464 locations. “Life” should finish comfortably in the top five with about $12 to $13 million, while “CHIPS” is eyeing an opening in the $7 million range.
“Power Rangers” stars a quintet of young actors — Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler, Becky G and Ludi Lin — in addition to more recognizable star power in Bill Hader, Bryan Cranston and Elizabeth Banks. Franchise creator Haim Saban returned to produce the film, which is directed by Dean Israelite. The film tells the story of a group of high schoolers who learn that they have special powers, and are tasked to save the world. Notably, “Power Rangers” includes an LGBT lead in Becky G’s Yellow Ranger — the first in a blockbuster superhero flick.
“Life” is a science fiction epic directed by Daniel Espinosa based on a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. In it, a crew on the International Space Station find proof of extraterrestrial life that quickly evolves and becomes a threat. Rebecca Ferguson, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ariyon Bakare and Olga Dihovichnaya star in addition to Gyllenhaal and Reynolds.
“CHIPS” is a buddy cop movie based on the television series that ran from 1977 until 1983. Shepard wrote, directed and stars in the film, co-starring Michael Pena. The two cops are highway patrol officers to embark on an adventure after discovering corruption in their own unit. Vincent D’Onofrio, Adam Brody, Rosa Salazar, Vida Guerra and Shepard’s wife, Kristen Bell, also star.
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