Robert Connolly’s family film Paper Planes continues to delight Australian audiences, taking in a further $1,675,914 over 298 screens at the box office over the weekend.
This takes the feel-good film to a box office total of $5,157,015 in just its second week of release.
The film, which stars Ed Oxenbould, Sam Worthington and Deborah Mailman, was beaten only by Clint Eastwood’s biographical war drama American Sniper, which took $5,266,516 in its opening weekend.
Paper Planes follows young Dylan (Oxenbould), whose passion for flying takes him far from his home in regional Australia to the World Paper Plane Championships in Japan.
It’s a far cry from American Sniper, which stars Bradley Cooper as real-life U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle who becomes one of the most lethal snipers in US history. Released on 298 screens, the film's total Aus box office to date is $5,627,440 (including previews from last week).
Both Paper Planes and American Sniper are distributed by Roadshow.
Proving there’s still an audience out there for Liam Neeson’s ex-covert operative Bryan Mills, Taken 3 pulled in at third place after taking $1,255,555 over 289 screens in its third week of release. The film, distributed by Fox, has a total Aus box office so far of $12,706,368.
Roadshow’s The Imitation Game leapt up a spot in its fourth week of release, raking $1,243,895 over 231 screens. The historical drama starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley has amassed a box office total of $13,897,614 so far.
Disney’s Into The Woods took $1,185,530 over 301 screens in its third week of release, taking the total to $10,044,808.
Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken slipped 48 per cent in its second week of release, sliding from second place all the way down to sixth. The biopic, based on the life of Olympic runner and POW survivor Louie Zamperini, took $1,107,620 over the weekend, bringing its Australian box office total to $4,333,088. The distributor is Universal.
Penguins of Madagascar raked in a rollicking $977,123 over 341 screens. In its fourth week of release, the Fox/Dreamworks animated caper has amassed $14,014,551 so far.
Walt Disney’s Big Hero 6 continued its impressive run with $975,529 over 245 screens in week five of its release, taking the total to $20,136,180.
Rom-com The Wedding Ringer stuttered in its first week, landing $946,858 over 171 screens, while American biographical drama Wild followed with $841,460. The film starring Reese Witherspoon was released on 177 screens and, including previews, now has a box office total of $979,845.
A few spots down, Russell Crowe’s The Water Diviner attracted $581,227 in its fifth week of release, bringing its total Australian box office to a juicy $14,133,907.
Weekend Box Office 22 – 25 January
|
|
Title |
Week/screens |
Box office $AUD |
% + / – |
Total |
|
1 |
American Sniper |
1/298 |
5,266,516 |
N/A |
$5,627,440 |
|
2 |
Paper Planes |
2/262 |
1,675,914 |
-3% |
$5,157,015 |
|
3 |
Taken 3 |
3/289 |
1,255,555 |
-52% |
$12,706,368. |
|
4 |
The Imitation Game |
4/231 |
1,243,895 |
-26% |
$13,897,614 |
|
5 |
Into the Woods |
3/301 |
1,185,530 |
-42% |
$10,044,808. |
|
6 |
Unbroken |
2/276 |
1,107,620 |
-48% |
$4,333,088. |
|
7 |
Penguins of Madagascar |
4/341 |
977,123 |
-30% |
$14,014,551 |
|
8 |
Big Hero 6 |
5/245 |
975,529 |
-32% |
$20,136,180. |
|
9 |
The Wedding Ringer |
1/171 |
946,858 |
NA |
$1,195,424 |
|
10 |
Wild |
1/177 |
841,460 |
+1203% |
$979,845. |
Source: Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia