‘Aquaman’ makes a big splash to top N.American box office

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LOS ANGELES, Dec 23, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – New Warner Bros. release “Aquaman”
made the biggest waves in North American theaters over the weekend with $67.4
million in ticket sales, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations estimated
Sunday.

That put it well ahead of two other new holiday-timed releases, as
Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns” took in $22.2 million for the three-day
weekend, flying slightly higher than Paramount’s “Bumblebee” at $21 million.

Together, the three helped boost the year’s domestic box-office revenue
toward a record $11.8 billion, Hollywood Reporter said.

“Aquaman” stars Jason Momoa in a title role infused with new swagger by
director James Wan, with Variety calling Momoa’s Aquaman “a bare-chested
Hawaiian super-stud with long, shaggy surfer hair and all-over tribal
tattoos.”

The look seems to work: The film has already taken in some $410 million
outside North America.

“Mary Poppins,” while lacking truly boffo opening numbers, is expected to
follow past musicals in enjoying a long box-office run.

The sequel to the 1964 movie stars Emily Blunt as the stern but kind-
hearted nanny (Julie Andrews in the original), backed by Lin-Manuel Miranda
of “Hamilton” fame. Dick Van Dyke, Mary Poppins’ Cockney-accented friend in
the original film, makes a cameo.

“Bumblebee,” a prequel to the “Transformers” movies, stars Hailee
Steinfeld and John Cena. It drew a lofty 94 percent rating from Rotten
Tomatoes as all three of the top grossing new movies earned strong A- ratings
from CinemaScores.

In fourth was Sony’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” taking in $16.7
million. It has Peter Parker making way for Miles Morales as a black, Latino
Spider-Man.

And fifth spot went to “The Mule” from Warner Bros., at $9.3 million.
Clint Eastwood, who at 88 says this will be his last acting part, directs and
takes the lead role as a destitute 90-year-old who turns to transporting
cocaine for a Mexican drug cartel.

Rounding out the weekend’s top 10 were:

“Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch” ($8.2 million)

“Second Act” ($6.5 million)

“Ralph Breaks the Internet” ($4.6 million)

“Welcome to Marwen” ($2.4 million)

“Mary Queen of Scots” ($2.2 million)