Fifty Shades climax tops global box office with $136.9 million
Universal Pictures‘ Fifty Shades climax, Fifty Shades Freed, dominated the global box office this weekend. The third and final chapter in the franchise debuted with $38.8 million in North America from 3,768 theaters, an average of $10,299 per location. Compared to the previous two films, Fifty Shades of Grey opened to $85.2 million in 2015 and Fifty Shades Darker brought in $46.6 million its first weekend in 2017. Fifty Shades Freed also rolled out in 57 international markets, where it earned $98.1 million for a global total of $136.9 million already. With this weekend’s grosses, the Fifty Shades trilogy has surpassed the $1 billion mark worldwide with an estimated total of $1.085 billion through Sunday. Made for $55 million and receiving a B+ CinemaScore from audiences, Fifty Shades Freed was directed by James Foley and stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson.
Opening in second place domestically was Sony Pictures Animation‘s Peter Rabbit, which took in $25 million from 3,725 theaters, an average of $6,711 per site. The film received an A-CinemaScore and cost $50 million to make. The Will Gluck-directed adaptation stars James Corden, Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson, Sam Neill, Daisy Ridley, Elizabeth Debicki, and Margot Robbie.
Third place belonged to Clint Eastwood’s The 15:17 to Paris (Warner Bros. Pictures). Featuring the real-life heroes playing themselves — Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, and Spencer Stone — the film earned $12.6 million from 3,042 theaters, an average of $4,142. The movie received a B- CinemaScore. Internationally, The 15:17 to Paris grossed $5.3 million from 23 markets.
Sony Pictures’ Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle dropped three spots to fourth place with $9.8 million and has now earned $365.7 million domestically after eight weeks. Internationally, Jumanji added another $7.5 million from 90 territories, pushing the overseas total to $516.1 million ($76.1 million from China) and worldwide sum to $881.8 million. The movie is now Sony’s third-biggest worldwide release of all time, passing SPECTRE ($880.7 million) and Spider-Man: Homecoming ($880.4 million). Directed by Jake Kasdan, the $90 million-budgeted film stars Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, and Bobby Cannavale.
20th Century Fox’s The Greatest Showman rounded out the top five domestically with $6.4 million, bringing its eight-week total to $146.5 million. Internationally, The Greatest Showman added $8.7 million from 40 markets and has collected $167.7 million overseas and $314.2 million worldwide. Directed by Michael Gracey, The Greatest Showman cost $84 million to make and stars Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya.
In the sixth spot, Maze Runner: The Death Cure (20th Century Fox) collected $6 million its third weekend for a total of $49 million so far. The film grossed $23.5 million in 80 international markets to push its overseas total to $180 million and global total to $229 million. Made for $62 million, The Death Cure was directed by Wes Ball and stars Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Giancarlo Esposito, Aidan Gillen, Ki Hong Lee, Barry Pepper, Will Poulter, and Patricia Clarkson.
CBS Films and Lionsgate’s Winchester, starring Helen Mirren and Jason Clarke, dropped down to the seventh spot its second weekend with $5.1 million and has earned $17.2 million. Winchester was directed by The Spierig Brothers (Jigsaw, Predestination).
