By Chris Kavan - 06/22/22 at 12:40 PM CT
Father's Day was a boon to Jurassic Park - and not so much for Pixar's latest film, Lightyear. Overall, it was still a strong weekend with Top Gun still flying strong and other major milestones were hit as well. After last week's rating bonanza, things get back down to earth with but a single, new entry to talk about.
Going into the weekend, it was expected that Lightyear, a spinoff from the popular Toy Story series, would take first place. But while it found support in both critics and audiences it wasn't enough to knock Jurassic Park Dominion from once again being crowned the box office champ. Even though it took a nearly 60% chomp from its opening, Dominion still scored a $59.1 million weekend, which was just enough for the film to top the $250 million mark with a final tally of $250.2 million. Even with critics fuming, audiences seem more than enthused to catch up with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard along with some old friends in Laura Dern, Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum. Add on another $372.4 million from overseas and Dominion is sitting at a hefty $622.6 million worldwide, achieving an easy blockbuster statue.
Going into this weekend, predictions were that Lightyear was looking at around $70 million but the film came in way under expectations with just a $50.5 million opening. While it is certified fresh at 75% - that is still on the low end for a Pixar film. It also scored an "A-" from audiences, it's just that not enough showed up to make it really count. Most of the complaints about Lightyear stem from the fact it's a weird "movie within a movie" in the Toy Story Universe. Lightyear is supposedly the film that inspired Andy's toy in the Toy Story franchise but it raises more questions (like why did Andy never have an awesome talking cat toy?) than it rightfully should. Plus it's very generic and some people were even upset that Chris Evans took over the voice of Buzz from Tim Allen. And, of course, you have all that controversy surrounding the same-sex kiss that got it banned from several Middle East countries. What it all boils down to is that Lightyear just didn't capture that usual Pixar magic - and with just $34.6 million abroad, its future doesn't look like it's going to infinity or beyond.
In third place, Top Gun: Maverick is still flying incredibly strong with a $44.6 million weekend - a drop of less than 14% - and giving the audience-favorite film a new $466.8 million total. $500 million seems like a lock at this point - and who knows just how high this is going to go - it looks to remain in the top five until Thor: Love and Thunder arrives in early July. Overseas it has taken in $419 million for a worldwide total of $885.2 million and $1 billion also seems like a lock at this point. The sky's the limit for this one.
In fourth place, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness took in $4.44 million, a drop of just 14.7% itself, and crossed the $400 million mark with a new $405.33 million total. Sure, it was beat to the punch by Maverick, but Multiverse of Madness is already in the top 10 for MCU films - topping Spider-Man's $403.7 million and sitting just behind Captain America: Civil War at $408 million. My guess is that it will settle in 8th place on the MCU list when the dust settles.
Rounding out the top five, The Bob's Burgers Movie continued to serve up some animated fare with a $1,17 million weekend (down 52.4%) for a new $29.8 million total. After four weeks I think this one has just about had its fill but I think it turned out better than I would have expected given its more niche appeal.
Next week, Ethan Hawke looks to terrify us with The Black Phone while Baz Luhrmann and Austin Butler give us a fantastical version of Elvis.
With a surprising abundance of new ratings last week, this time things are settling down with but a single new wide release but, of course, it's a lot better than nothings from the MPAA Ratings Bulletin.
This time around the standout is On a Wing and a Prayer which follows a family on a routine flight that turns anything but when the pilot dies and the father must take control to land the plane safely to save his family - and the rest on board. Said father/pilot is played by Dennis Quaid with Heather Graham, Jesse Metcalfe, Brandon Quinn, Rachael Markarian and Mark Rowe taking this flight among others. Director Sean McNamara has been in the game a long time but isn't known for major blockbusters with smaller, more feel-good films like Spare Parts, The Miracle Season and Mighty Oak to his many, many credits. This one is also likely to fall right into that wheelhouse but hopefully reach a larger audience in the process. Rated PG for peril, some language, suggestive references and thematic elements.
That's the one big film for the week, but you can check out the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
BACK ON THE STRIP
Rated R for sexual material, language and some drug use.
CENTURION: THE DANCING STALLION
Rated PG for thematic material and some bloody images.
FALL
Rated PG-13 for bloody images, intense peril and strong language.
FUNNY PAGES
Rated R for crude sexual content, graphic nudity, language and brief violent images.
GONE IN THE NIGHT
Rated R for language throughout and brief bloody images.
LOVE IS A FUNNY THING
Rated R for some nudity. (Re-Rate Replaces GP Rating issued in Bulletin 66 2/9/1970)
MAGNUM OPUS
Rated G
THE MODERATOR
Rated R for violence, sexual assault, language, some sexual content and brief drug use.
MY FATHER'S DRAGON
Rated PG for some peril.
ON A WING AND A PRAYER
Rated PG for peril, some language, suggestive references and thematic elements.
WIFELIKE
Rated R for sexual content, nudity, violence and language.
