Movie

The Steven Spielberg-directed sci-fi movie easily beats another newcomer, Tyler Perry's 'Acrimony', with an estimated $53.2 million over the holiday weekend.

• Apr 2, 2018

AceShowbiz - "Ready Player One" has successfully overcome skepticism and come out as a champion on North American box office. The sci-fi movie from director Steven Spielberg tops the chart on this Easter weekend with approximately $41.2 million from Friday to Sunday. If Thursday previews are factored in, the movie brought in an impressive $53.2 million over the four-day weekend.

Spielberg's attempt to return to his crowd-pleasing roots, the movie delivers his largest opening weekend in ten years. The Warner Bros. Pictures film is also received well overseas, collecting approximately $128 million in 62 territories this weekend.

Based on the novel by Ernest Cline, "Ready Player One" was initially met with skepticism as its cast, which includes Tye Sheridan and Olivia Cooke, does not boast household names, and its nostalgic appeal doesn't suit everyone's taste, despite many glowing reviews from critics. Nevertheless, the movie received an A-minus CinemaScore from moviegoers, promising good word-of-mouth marketing.

"We're absolutely thrilled," says Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. domestic distribution president. "Steven Spielberg is just an incredible director of our time. Nobody else could have done this but Steven. The film itself is just an extraordinary piece of movie making."

In the second place of the chart is another new release, "Acrimony". The psychological thriller produced by Tyler Perry opens with an estimated $17.1 million over the three-day weekend. It's a solid start for a movie which cost less than $15 million to make.

"Black Panther" stays steady, dropping one slot to No. 3 with an additional $11.3 million. It has so far collected $650 million domestically, surpassing "The Avengers" as Marvel Studios' top earner and making it the fifth highest-grossing movie domestically, behind "Jurassic World" which is currently sitting in fourth at just over $652 million.

"I Can Only Imagine" is also falling one spot from No. 3 to No. 4 with an estimated $10.7 million. Meanwhile, last week's champion "Pacific Rim Uprising" plunges to No. 5 with approximately $9.2 million (dropping 67.3%).

Top Ten Movies at Weekend Box Office for March 30-April 01:

1. "Ready Player One" - $41.2 million
2. "Acrimony" - $17.1 million
3. "Black Panther" - $11.3 million
4. "I Can Only Imagine" - $10.7 million
5. "Pacific Rim Uprising" - $9.2 million
6. "Sherlock Gnomes" - $7 million
7. "Love,Simon" - $4.8 million
8. "Tomb Raider" - $4.7 million
9. "A Wrinkle in Time" - $4.69 million
10. "Paul, Apostle of Christ" - $3.5 million