‘Deadpool 2.’
Ryan Reynolds’ second outing as anti-hero Deadpool appears to have almost as much appeal as the first, with the sequel bringing in $12.6 million over its opening weekend – easily taking out Avengers: Infinity War.
That opening is just shy of the 2016 original, which bowed on $14.8 million locally. With previews, Deadpool 2 is now on $15.2 million overall.
In the US, the superhero comedy also had a big opening weekend – taking $US125 million, and another $US176 million in all other territories.
Among the other new releases this week was Umbrella’s Cargo, the debut feature of Sydney filmmakers Yolanda Ramke and Ben Howling, which opened on 27 screens to just $24,410. However, Australia is the only territory where the film will get a theatrical release; in the rest of the world it debuted on Friday as a Netflix Original. It will arrive on the Australian service in six months’ time.
Overall, the top 20 titles in Australia collectively brought in $18.2 million over the weekend, up a massive 56 per cent, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia (MPDAA).
Now in its fourth week, Avengers: Infinity War, was unable to keep up with Deadpool 2, slipping 56 per cent to earn $2.4 million. Overall the Disney/Marvel blockbuster has amassed a whopping $57.2 million.
WB’s Melissa McCarthy comedy Life of the Party, which held onto the third spot on its second round, banking $885,503 to take its total to $3.4 million.
Simon Baker’s feature debut Breath is in fourth position its third week, successfully crossing the $3 million mark – the Tim Winton adaptation made an additional $385,292 from 249 screens over the weekend.
Studiocanal’s WWII romance thriller The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society made $326,790 in its fifth chapter, a fall of 42.7 per cent. Overall the film, directed by Mike Newell, has made $5.5 million.
Amy Schumer-starrer I Feel Pretty brought in $284,518, a fall of 57 per cent, bringing its total to $8.9 million for eOne after five weeks.
Studiocanal’s Tully, from Jason Reitman and starring Charlize Theron, now sits on $754,059 after two weeks, and Paramount’s A Quiet Place is now on $12.2 million after seven weeks.
Chinese romantic comedy How Long Will I Love You, about a woman from 2018 and a man from 1999 waking up in the same bed, opening on $158,529 from just 21 screens.
Rounding out the top 10 was Sony’s Peter Rabbit, which after nine weeks has hauled $26.3 million.
Paul Williams’ documentary Gurrumul remains in the top 20, having now made $575,283 over five weeks for Madman.
Another local doco, Naina Sen’s The Song Keepers, has made $115,671 after five weeks in release for Potential.