showbiz

Cop comedy ‘Ride Along’ finally dethrones ‘Star Wars’

January 18, 2016

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" was finally dethroned from its weeks-long grip atop the North American box office, shoved aside by cop comedy "Ride Along 2" and Oscar favourite "The Revenant."

"Ride Along 2" raked in US$34 million (RM150 million) for the three-day weekend, box office tracker Exhibitor Relations said Sunday, while revenge film "The Revenant" earned US$29.5 million.

The latest instalment of the popular "Star Wars" saga came in at US$25.1 million in its fifth week, boosting it to a worldwide total take of US$1.86 billion, third highest ever.

"Ride Along 2" soared to first place in its first week of release, appearing in 3,175 North American theatres.

The film features funny man Kevin Hart as a rookie law officer who aspires to become a detective like his future brother-in-law, played by rapper and actor Ice Cube, as the two become embroiled with a murderous Miami drug ring.

The original "Ride Along" movie, with the same stars, set an opening-weekend record in January 2014, netting US$41.6 million.

"The Revenant," in its fourth week in theatres, got a certain boost from news of its nomination for 12 Oscars, most of any film.

The movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a legendary fur trapper, has already won Golden Globes for Best Picture, Best Director (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu) and Best Actor (DiCaprio).

Rounding out the week's top 10 films were:

• "13 Hours," in its first week in theatres ($16 million)
• "Daddy's Home" ($9.3 million)
• "Norm of the North," also in its first week ($6.7 million)
• "The Forest" ($5.8 million)
• "The Big Short" ($5.2 million)
• "Sisters" ($4.4 million)
• "The Hateful Eight" ($3.4 million) – January 18, 2016.