Box Office: The Last Jedi sets more records, Paddington 2 opens

• Star Wars: The Last Jedi explodes past $35m on second weekend

The second last weekend of the movie year was almost all about Star Wars: The Last Jedi again. Star Wars VIII saw its earnings down dramatically on the opening weekend of course, but the sci-fi blockbuster still accounted for over 50% of the earnings for the top 20 movies.
The weekend total dropped dramatically too – down 48% to $13.77m.

#1 Star Wars: The Last Jedi $7.06m
The records have tumbled for the latest from the biggest-ever movie franchise. The movie recorded the third-biggest opening day ever with $7.06m (trailing only Stars Wars: The Force Awakens with $9.45m in 2015 and Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 with $7.09m in 2011). Then as we noted last week The Last Jedi had the second-best opening weekend ever on $20.97m, trailing only The Force Awakens with $27.25m in 2015. The Last Jedi then altered the record books with the third biggest opening week ever of $27.88m – trailing only The Force Awakens on $38.54m and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 on $29.33m.
For its second weekend in cinemas, The Last Jedi shed 90 screens to 880 which returned a screen average of $8,031. Its total do-date at the end of the four day weekend ending Sunday December 24 was $34.95m. As the new year ticks over the movie should be well past $40m.

#2 Ferdinand $1.26m
The second weekend of the animated comedy-drama for kids saw earnings slip 25% as it held steady on close to 290 screens with a total to-date of $5.35m.

#3 Paddington 2 $1.04m
The only new release to open wide was on 299 screens with an average of $3,491. The cast largely remains intact from the first movie. No Nicole Kidman this time, while a new addition was Hugh Grant.

#4 Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle $1.00m
The film managed to make the magic million despite only screening in previews at 241 screens with an average of $4,154.

#5 Wonder $800,000
The Julia Roberts movie this week passed $10m on its fourth weekend.