By Chris Kavan - 05/05/21 at 10:56 AM CT
While most of the ratings updates this week concern streaming titles - at least they are interesting to cover. That being said, the box office brought plenty of drama as, for the first time since Pokémon the First Movie, a Japanese film topped the U.S. box office. Demon Slayer outmatched Mortal Kombat in their respective second weekends to take the crown, even as both films took a hefty drop. Still, it's an impressive feat and, given history, a rare one.
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train did drop nearly 70% from its opening weekend, but the $6.4 million it brought in was still good enough for first place as well as a new $34.1 million total, raising it above Dragon Ball: Super Broly ($30 million) to become the third-highest grossing anime title of all time and Pokémon the Movie 2000 ($43.7 million) may not be outside of its grasp. It is officially the highest-grossing worldwide anime film of all time with $428.4 million (it already had that title in its home country of Japan). No matter how you spin things, it's an impressive run.
Dropping to second place was Mortal Kombat, which likewise suffered a hefty 73.2% drop in its second weekend, bringing in $6.23 million and giving it a new $34 million total (also just under Demon Slayer). Given how both films over-performed in their opening weekends, I think more was expected but perhaps we're still over-confident in how many people are willing to return to theaters (or at least more than once). Plus, with this being on HBO Max it still gives people that stay-at-home option.
In third place was Godzilla vs. Kong, still hammering it out with $2.8 million and just crossing that $90 million mark with a new $90.3 million total. The dueling titans dipped a shade over 34% in its fifth week out and the film still has a good chance of becoming the first in the pandemic era to hit $100 million domestic. The competition will start to heat up a bit, but I think it will be able to hit that mark - its global total has already topped $400 million with $415.4 million total.
In fourth place was the week's only new title, horror film Separation. With little to no fanfare and withering reviews (a dreadful 8% on Rotten Tomatoes), this one crawled to a $1.8 million opening. This is one of those blink-and-you'll-miss them releases - only I have to think most people will be just fine with missing this one.
Rounding out the top five once again, and with the best hold among the top five, Raya and the Last Dragon dipped a light 20.7% for a $1.38 million weekend and a new $41.6 million total. It now has a healthy advantage over Tom and Jerry ($44.2 million) and I think it will be able to catch up and ultimately pass it in the end. A small victory in these times. It also crossed the $100 million mark worldwide, sitting just under $101 million.
The biggest indie release of the week was the Mila Kunis addict recovery drama Four Good Days, co-starring Glenn Close as her mother. The film $298,358 from 298 theaters for a $1001 per-theater average.
Next week we get a new Jason Statham revenge action film in Wrath of Man and the return of director (and actor) Billy Crystal in the multi-generational comedy Here Today.
Onto the ratings bulletin which brings us two streaming titles of note and a blasphemous film that hand-wringing Christians tried to cancel (but I'm talking about it so obviously unsuccessful). Onward we go!
Remember when Sylvester Stallone wanted to do an offshoot of the Expendables called the Expenda-belles featuring a kick-ass female cast? Well, the closest we ever got was the budget title Mercenaries (which, if you can't remember coming out, is probably for the best) but it looks like we might be finally getting a much better representation and its coming to Netflix. Gunpowder Milkshake doesn't have a release date (summer of 2021 sometime) as of yet, but it's already being buzzed about as a potential franchise for the streamer. And why not? The cast is strong - Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy, Jumanji), Lena Headey (Game of Thrones, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Carla Gugino (Watchmen, San Andreas), Angela Bassett (everything from Malcolm X to Black Panther), Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Tomorrow Never Dies and Star Trek: Discovery) and Freya Allan (The Witcher) headline this team-up of some of the most badass women in film today. The film follows Sam (Gillan) who had one of the world's most ruthless assassins as a mother, Scarlett (Headey), who was forced to abandon her as a teen. Now grown up, Sam works for The Firm, a ruthless criminal syndicate, and does the master assassin work her mother was known for. But when a mission goes wrong, she goes against The Film to save a young girl (Chloe Coleman) from death and must reunite with her mother and the group known as The Librarians (Yeoh, Bassett and Gugino) in order to survive the retaliation from The Firm. The film also stars Paul Giamatti, Ralph Ineson and Adam Nagaitis. Netflix is spending a lot of money but I have to say this looks like money well spend and I'm all in on watching this. Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout and language.
We're not done with Netflix yet as the streaming giant has a second title this week in Vivo an original animated musical from the creative mind of Lin-Manuel Miranda. Sure, while In the Heights may be getting all the attention, don't forget this animated tale is also coming out (also sometime this summer - no official date yet). Miranda voices/sings as the titular Vivo, a kinkajou who is trying to make it from Havana to Miami on behalf of his owner, Andrés (Juan de Marcos González) and deliver a one-of-a-kind song. The film also features the talents of Zoe Saldana, Michael Rooker, Gloria Estefan, Nicole Byer, Brian Tyree Henry, Leslie David Baker and Olivia Trujillo among others. Directed by animated vets Kirk DeMicco (The Croods) and Brandon Jeffords (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 3) this looks to be every bit as vibrant and upbeat as In the Heights and should provide plenty of spark for the summer. Rated PG for some thematic elements and mild action.
Finally, I can't not mention Habit, which, like the aforementioned films, doesn't technically have a release date (at least this is August of 2021) but is certainly the most controversial. Starring Bella Thorne (breaker of OnlyFans) and Paris Jackson as (supposedly) lesbian Jesus - the film gained controversy (and attention) when it gained over 300,000 signatures from uptight Christians demanding the film be cancelled because of said "lesbian Jesus" controversy. And guess what? It looks like it didn't work at all and, in fact, I'm guessing all the attention over the demand to cancel it only made it even more popular - or at least more visible - to people who would have otherwise not even known about it. Directed by Janell Shirtcliff, the film follows a street smart party girl, Evie (Libby Mintz) who flees from a violent drug deal and hides out in a convent as a nun. Word is the girl has Jesus fetish, hence the apparent visions of Jackson as said Jesus. The film also co-stars Hana Mae Lee, Hayley Marie Norman, Gavin Rossdale, Andreja Pejic, Josie Ho and Aarón Díaz. This blasphemous picture is rated R for strong drug content, pervasive language, sexual content, some bloody violence and brief nudity. Oh the humanity!
That is it for the films I'm covering this week, but you can check out the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
DISCIPLES
Rated PG-13 for violent content and some disturbing images.
GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE
Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout and language.
HABIT
Rated R for strong drug content, pervasive language, sexual content, some bloody violence and brief nudity.
JOCKEY
Rated R for language.
NOTORIOUS NICK
Rated PG-13 for sports action/violence and language.
VIVO
Rated PG for some thematic elements and mild action.
