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‘Fantastic Beasts’ enchants North American box office
LOS ANGELES, Nov 20, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s
new movie “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” enchanted the North
American box office over the weekend, taking in around $62.2 million,
industry tracker Exhibitor Relations said Monday.
This second Harry Potter prequel came in slightly behind the first
“Fantastic Beasts” movie, which earned $74.4 million in its opening three-day
weekend, but it has already scored an impressive $253.2 million overseas.
Warner Bros. plans three more “Beasts” movies.
Written by Rowling and directed by David Yates, “Grindelwald” stars Eddie
Redmayne as Newt Scamander as he works with Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) to
take down the evil Gellert Grindelwald, played with typical panache by Johnny
Depp.
In a rare weekend when neither horror nor superhero movies dominated,
second place went to family-friendly “The Grinch” from Universal, which
tallied $38.6 million.
The ever-popular Dr. Seuss tale has Benedict Cumberbatch voicing the ill-
tempered green title character, with support from Rashida Jones, Kenan
Thompson and Angela Lansbury.
In third spot, with $16 million in ticket sales, was Fox’s “Bohemian
Rhapsody,” the foot-stomping biopic about Freddie Mercury and rock group
Queen. Rami Malek has drawn strong reviews for his portrayal of the British
singer/songwriter.
Fourth went to new Paramount release “Instant Family,” starring Mark
Wahlberg and Rose Byrne as a married couple who take in three foster kids
over the holidays. It earned $14.5 million and has drawn an “A” rating from
audiences polled by CinemaScore.
In fifth was Fox’s “Widows,” at $12.4 million. Directed by Steve McQueen of
“12 Years a Slave” fame, it stars Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez and
Elizabeth Debicki as a group of women who try to pull off a heist after their
husbands are killed in a botched robbery.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0950 hrs