The domestic box office grossed $12.6 million on the weekend, a notable rise of 43% from the previous week’s figures and a welcomed boost for the sector after Australians flocked to see four new flicks.
Those films are “Sonic 2”, “Morbius”, “The Bad Guys” and “The Duke.”
Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” came in at No. 1, according to Numero data. Directed by Jeff Fowler, the Sega sequel collected $3.6 million from 475 screens. The film is yet to make its debut on screens in the U.S. but claimed the summit the U.K., Spain, France and Germany.
Despite the bad reviews, “Morbius”, the latest comic book adventure from Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters, landed at No. 2 at the Australian box office on the weekend. Starring Jared Leto – who plays genius turned vampire – it pocketed $3.1 million from 589 screens.
“Morbius”, directed by Daniel Espinosa, took in US$44.9 million at the international box office, boosting its global total to $84 million.
Universal Pictures’ latest, “The Bad Guys”, based on the book of the same name by Australian author Aaron Blabey, entered the top five on the weekend at No 3. It grossed $1.9 million from 345 screens, tallying the total gross box office to $2.3 million.
“The Batman” slipped from the top spot to No. 4 on its fifth weekend, but still grossed $1.4 million from 335 screens around the country. Its cume now sits at $35.2 million. Outside of North America, Australia is the third highest-grossing market for the Matt Reeves directed movie.
Transmission Films’ British comedy-drama “The Duke” crept to No. 5 on the weekend. It grossed $623,017 from 261 screens. Produced by The London-based Australian Nicky Bentham, “The Duke” is based on the theft of a portrait of the Duke of Wellington.
Departing the top five this week were “Dog”, “Uncharted”, “RRR” and “Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie”.