By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --After dipping to No. 2 last weekend, "It" has regained control of the North American box office in its fourth weekend in theaters.
The movie beat out the new Tom Cruise film "American Made" and "Kingsman: The Golden Circle." But it was a close race that could shift when studios report actual weekend totals on Monday.
According to studio estimates on Sunday, the Stephen King adaptation and box office juggernaut added $17.3 million to take the top spot. The film now boasts $291.2 million in domestic grosses.
"It" edged out last weekend's box office champ, "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" and newcomer "American Made," which essentially tied for second with $17 million apiece. Estimates have "American Made" taking a slight advantage, with around $16,000 more than the "Kingsman" sequel.
Directed by Doug Liman, "American Made" is earning Cruise strong praise for his portrayal of the real life TWA pilot turned drug smuggler and CIA operative, but it's also a somewhat lukewarm North American debut for the star. Liman also directed Cruise in "Edge of Tomorrow," which opened to $28.8 million in June 2014.
"Tom Cruise has set the bar so high for himself that anything less than No. 1 feels like a comedown. That's the conundrum he's in," said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for comScore. "Cruise will always be measured against his unprecedented bar-raising string of hits from 1992 to 2006 that generated twelve $100 million-plus earners at the North American box office."
The film, which cost a reported $50 million to make, got a few weeks head start internationally, however, and has already raked in $81.7 million worldwide to date.
Nick Carpou, who heads up distribution for Universal Pictures, which is handling worldwide distribution for "American Made," said this debut is "the beginning of what will be a long playout and a successful one."
"Kingsman: The Golden Circle" fell about $56 percent in its second weekend in theaters, bringing its domestic total to $66.7 million.
"The Lego Ninjago Movie" took fourth place with $12 million, while the "Flatliners" remake opened to a cold $6.7 million for a fifth place start.
The weekend closes out what is looking to be a record-breaking September at the box office, although the year is still down about 4.7 percent from 2016.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "It," $17.3 million ($35.6 million international).
2."American Made," $17 million ($3.8 million international).
3."Kingsman: The Golden Circle," $17 million ($50.5 million international).
4."The Lego Ninjago Movie," $12 million ($10.6 million international).
5."Flatliners," $6.7 million ($3.1 million international).
6."Battle of the Sexes," $3.4 million.
7."American Assassin," $3.3 million ($2.2 million international)
8."Home Again," $1.8 million ($870,000 international).
9."Til Death Do Us Part," $1.5 million.
10."mother!" $1.5 million ($4 million international).
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:
1. "Kingsman: The Golden Circle," $50.5 million.
2. "Never Say Die," $45.6 million.
3. "It," $35.6 million.
4. "The Foreigner," $23.1 million.
5. "Chasing the Dragon," $14.9 million.
6. "Sky Hunter," $13 million.
7. "Judwaa 2," $11.8 million.
8. "City of Rock," $11.2 million.
9. "The Lego Ninjago Movie," $10.6 million.
10. "Cars 3" and "The Emoji Movie," $4.8 million.
Review: Director-Writer Megan Park’s “My Old Ass”
They say tripping on psychedelic mushrooms triggers hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia and nervousness. In the case of Elliott, an 18-year-old restless Canadian, they prompt a visitor.
"Dude, I'm you," says the guest, as she nonchalantly burns a 'smores on a campfire next to a very high and stunned Elliott. "Well, I'm a 39-year-old you. What's up?"
What's up, indeed: Director-writer Megan Park has crafted a wistful coming-of-age tale using this comedic device for "My Old Ass" and the results are uneven even though she nails the landing.
After the older Elliott proves who she is — they share a particular scar, childhood memories and a smaller left boob — the time-travel advice begins: Be nice to your brothers and mom, and stay away from a guy named Chad.
"Can we hug?" asks the older Elliott. They do. "This is so weird," says the younger Elliott, who then makes things even weirder when she asks for a kiss — to know what it's like kissing yourself. The older Elliott soon puts her number into the younger's phone under the name "My Old Ass." Then they keep in touch, long after the effects of the 'shrooms have gone.
Part of the movie's problem that can't be ignored is that the two Elliotts look nothing alike. Maisy Stella plays the coltish young version and a wry Aubrey Plaza the older. Both turn in fine performances but the visuals are slowly grating.
The arrival of the older Elliott coincides with her younger self counting down the days until she can flee from her small town of 300 in the Muskoka Lakes region to college in Toronto, where "my life is about to start." She's sick of life on a cranberry farm.
Park's scenes and dialogue are unrushed and honest as Elliott takes her older self's advice and tries to repair... Read More