Disney’s “Moana 2” dominated the U.K. and Ireland box office with a £12 million ($15.2 million) debut, according to numbers from Comscore, marking a strong start for the animated sequel.
The film led a robust weekend that saw Universal’s “Wicked” holding strong in its second frame with £8.3 million, bringing its cumulative total to £28.5 million.
Paramount’s “Gladiator II” continued to perform in its third week, adding £2.5 million for a total of £23.5 million. Studiocanal’s “Paddington In Peru” demonstrated staying power in its fourth week, collecting £1.8 million and pushing its total to £27.3 million.
Black Bear’s new entry “Conclave” opened with £1.1 million, while Warner Bros.’ “Red One” rounded out its fourth week with £425,853, bringing its cume to £6.6 million.
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BFI Distribution’s “All We Imagine As Light” debuted with £111,033, while Entertainment Film Distributors’ “Heretic” added £96,583 in its fifth week for a £5.7 million total. Park Circus’s 20th Anniversary 4K restoration of “The Polar Express” launched with £83,677, and Lionsgate U.K.’s “Small Things Like These” collected £71,176 in its fifth frame, reaching £3.7 million total.
Among the new releases, Kaleidoscope Entertainment’s Sundance-premiering documentary “Never Look Away,” directed by Lucy Lawless and featuring Christiane Amanpour and Margaret Moth, opened on Monday.
Wednesday, Dec. 4 sees the release of Sony anime “Solo Leveling – ReAwakening.” The day also sees the release of the most anticipated film of the year from India – sequel “Pushpa 2 – The Rule,” from AA Films U.K., starring Allu Arjun, Fahadh Faasil and Rashmika Mandanna.
On the Friday, from Universal comes Cannes-debuting “Rumours,” headlined by Cate Blanchett. Netflix is giving a theatrical release to Tyler Perry’s “The Six Triple Eight,” starring Kerry Washington and featuring Oprah Winfrey. Amazon MGM Studios rolls out “Unstoppable” with Jennifer Lopez and Don Cheadle. From Disney comes “Nightbitch,” headlined by Amy Adams, while Tull Stories is opening Sitges winner “Grand Theft Hamlet.”
In the specialty market, Yume Pictures/Blue Dolphin Films presents Jessica Hausner’s “Club Zero” starring Mia Wasikowska, while Picturehouse Entertainment debuts Rungano Nyoni’s “On Becoming A Guinea Fowl.”
International offerings include Bulldog Film Distribution’s “The Commander” starring Pierfrancesco Favino, while event cinema features Andre Rieu’s seasonal offering “Christmas Concert: Gold And Silver” from Piece Of Magic Entertainment and “Laufey’s A Night At The Symphony: Hollywood Bowl” from Trafalgar.
Dogwoof is opening Indian Sundance-winning documentary “Nocturnes,” while Curzon is releasing “Merchant Ivory,” a documentary on the celebrated filmmaking pair.