After a neck-and-neck box office race that couldn’t be called during the weekend, Disney’s “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” took the No. 1 spot on the box office charts, just barely beating Warner Bros./Village Roadshow’s “Joker” by approximately $120,000.
When actual totals were reported on Monday by Boxoffice Pro, the “Maleficent” sequel recorded a second weekend total of $19.36 million while “Joker” grossed $19.24 million in its fourth weekend. It’s the second straight No. 1 for “Maleficent,” preventing “Joker” from taking non-consecutive No. 1 weekends during a box office run that has seen it endure with audiences both in the U.S. and abroad. With a global total of $851 million, “Joker” has set a new record for the highest grossing R-Rated film in box office history.
“Maleficent,” which has a $66 million 10-day total, is relying on overseas numbers to draw a profit. Globally, the film has grossed $293 million against a $185 million budget.
Both “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” and “Joker” are expected to cede the top spot this coming weekend to Paramount’s “Terminator: Dark Fate,” which is currently estimated for a $40 million opening weekend. Also opening is Focus Features’ “Harriet,” which is tracking for an $8 million opening, Warner Bros.’ “Motherless Brooklyn,” which is estimated for a $5 million opening, and Entertainment Studios’ “Arctic Dogs,” also estimated at $5 million. Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” will also get a limited release through Netflix.
