“Nothing really changes, Anyone can see, Nothing really changes,” sang Freddy Mercury. Well, I think he did – my reading of the lyrics of Bohemian Rhapsody may be tainted by the sub-par speaker system at my local. Anyway, this column needed an intro, so that will do. Because at the moment nothing really does change…
Actually, I’m exaggerating a little, because a few things did change. But not at the top. Pitch Perfect 2 is still ruling the roost, holding onto number one for its second week. Clearly the world cannot get enough of acapella-spouting, joke-busting college students taking on Eurotrash Germans. Analysts are crediting female audiences with this movie’s global success, but I’d rather put my money on the general sure of musical-fever over the past few years.
Also holding onto its spot is Mad Max: Fury Road, sitting at number two for the second week running. It’s not been the great earner that some hoped for, but nor was it the utter disaster many predicted. It would probably do a lot better across the globe if the new Avengers wasn’t taking up all the space.
Speaking of which, still at third and also unmoved from last week is Avengers: Age of Ultron. It has now passed the global figure of $1.2 billion, making it the number 6th all-time earner. This means Marvel-fever is likely to stay for quite a while longer…
At four, a new movie! The tentpole Tomorrowland has had a lacklustre opening across the world and SA is no different. It debuted behind the pack, but might still show some staying power, considering nice special effects, a warm and fuzzy sci-fi- world, and George Clooney.
Number five is another newcomer, Hot Pursuit, the buddy comedy starring Reese Witherspoon as a bumbling cop and Sofia Vergara as her witness-protection package. Critics are HATING it, but that rarely plays a role in how well these comedies do. Still, we’ll see if it can last longer than a week.
Speaking of long lasting, I’ve lost count of how long Fast & Furious 7 has been on the charts. Seated at six, it dropped two spots. But it won’t mind – I suspect it must be nearing the local chart’s longest streak record holder, Spongebob Squarepants. Sadly FF7 has not yet squeezed out enough from box offices to replaced the first Avengers as the number three all-time earner.
Anyway, getting back to my point about comedy audiences ignoring critics, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 still sits in the charts, but it did move down two spots to seven.
Another chart surprise is Yellow Bird. I did not think this animation would have staying power, but it’s enjoying its third week on the chart, as well as its third week at the eighth spot.
Once more lamenting comedies – Get Hard is down two spots, but has been enjoying a good local run. Who knew Will Ferrell had so many local fans? I should give Kevin Hart some dues – perhaps his fame with Fast & Furious 7 is helping him a lot.
Finally, at ten is the local comedy Somer Son, restoring the trend of well-performing local Afrikaans movies after the lacklustre performance of French Toast. But again I need to lament that we’ve yet to see a single non-Afrikaans movie chart this year. Maybe local filmmakers need to revisit their marketing strategies?
Leaving the charts are The Duff and You’re Not You. The top earner remains Fast & Furious 7 with R70 million, a figure that has pretty much stagnated and an indication of how little revenue actually flows through the local box office.
- 01. PITCH PERFECT 2
- 02. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (incl 3D & Imax)
- 03. AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (incl. 3D & Imax)
- 04. TOMORROWLAND
- 05. HOT PURSUIT
- 06. FAST & FURIOUS 7
- 07. PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2
- 08. YELLOW BIRD
- 09. GET HARD
- 10. SOMER SON
Last Updated: May 27, 2015
WhiteRock
May 28, 2015 at 07:22
Mad Max really blew my mind – wasn’t expecting much but got a whole lot more than I bargained for! And Tom Hardy owns Max – well done.