STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS at no. 1

21 Dec 2015

Singapore - This week's Box Office Mojo looks highly suspect but this is what we know...

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (PG) conquer the no. 1 spot with premium formats that include 3D and IMAX 3D. The total gross is a reported US$2,579,893 from an unusually low number of screens (53) and an unusually high screen average (US$48,677).

A discrepancy appears likely as these numbers differ vastly from top openers like AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (US$3,561,440 /148 screens / US$24,064 screen average) and TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION (US$4,171,943 / 150 screens / US$27,813 screen average).

Regardless, if the weekend gross holds, it means SWVII is only the fourth biggest opener of the year behind AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, JURASSIC WORLD (US$3,440,857) and FAST AND FURIOUS 7 (US$3,104,350).

It's also reported that SWVII set a record for a December opening day and IMAX although actual numbers are not available.

Weekend figures for POINT BLANK and THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 2 also appear suspect as their rankings on BOM and the Cinematograph Film Exhibitors Association do not tally.

Domestic hit MR. UNBELIEVABLE returns to the top five in its third weekend but is missing from BOM, as is Japanese horror GHOST THEATER entering its second weekend.

Korean fantasy romance THE BEAUTY INSIDE (PG13) and Chris Evans' directorial effort BEFORE WE GO (PG13) debut outside the top ten with US$6,560 (2 screens) and US$3,715 (1 screen) respectively.

UPDATE (24 Dec): Lianhe Zaobao reports that MR. UNBELIEVABLE has grossed an estimated US$375,301 as of its third weekend.


Box Office (17-20 Dec)

1 (-) Star Wars: The Force Awakens (PG)
S$2,579,893 / S$2,579,893 
53 screens
[figures need further verification]

2 (1) Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie (G)
US$158,173 / US$611,152
28 screens

3 (2) The Good Dinosaur (PG)
US$85,354 / US$2,042,511
22 screens

4 (3) Point Break (NC16)
US$3,139 / US$573,059
3 screens
[figures need further verification]

5 (6) Mr. Unbelievable (PG)
N.A. / US$375,301

6 (5) The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (PG13)
US$15,189 / US$3,099,197 
6 screens
[figures need further verification]

7 (10) Love the Coopers (PG13)
US$22,629 / US$88,400
8 screens

8 (13) The Vanished Murderer 消失的凶手 (PG13)
US$19,546 / US$66,920
6 screens

9 (4) In the Heart of the Sea (PG13)
US$16,599 / US$608,688
11 screens

10 (?) Ghost Theater (PG13)
N.A.

Legend: 
This Week / Last Week / Title / Rating
Weekend Gross / Total Gross

Sources: The ranking above is from the Cinematograph Film Exhibitors Association while the figures are from Box Office Mojo.