NEW Warner Bros. release 'Space Jam: A New Legacy' rocketed to the top of the North American box office over the weekend, taking in an estimated US$31.6 million in the best showing of a family film since Covid first hammered the industry.
The live action/animated movie – a sequel nearly 25 years after the original 'Space Jam' with Michael Jordan – has NBA superstar LeBron James teaming up with Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters in a high-stakes basketball game against a rogue artificial-intelligence entity threatening his son.
The film's surprise showing, despite middling-to-terrible reviews – the New York Post called it an "abomination" – propelled it past last weekend's leader, Disney superhero film 'Black Widow.'
That Marvel Studios production, starring Scarlett Johansson, took in US$25.6 million in the Friday-through-Sunday period, down sharply from its US$80.4 million opening, according to industry watcher Exhibitor Relations.
In third place was Sony's psychological thriller 'Escape Room: Tournament of Champions,' at US$8.8 million. Taylor Russell and Logan Miller, reprising their roles in 2019's 'Escape Room,' face a series of deadly traps and puzzles set by the evil Minos.
Fourth place went to Universal's 'F9: The Fast Saga,' at US$7.6 million, bringing the four-week domestic total of the Vin Diesel/John Cena action thriller to US$154 million.
And in fifth was Universal's animated 'Boss Baby: Family Business,' at US$4.7 million.
Meantime, 'Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain' – the Focus Features/CNN Films movie about the world-traveling chef – had the best opening of a documentary this year, at US$1.9 million. – AFP, July 19, 2021
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