South Africa’s box office chart: Fifty Shades Darker comes first yet again

Sex sells and South Africans are totally buying. This past weekend saw Fifty Shades Darker hold strong in first place at the box office, suggesting that plot and character development are irrelevant when you can watch stock characters get kinky enough for middle-aged white women. So what does that mean for the other films this weekend (17 to 19 February 2017)?

The Great Wall starring Matt Damon debuted at number two and proved my theory about plot. Matt Damon in armour and a pony tail is just kinky enough for middle-aged women to get behind.

The Lego Batman Movie held its own in third place, as former champion of the box office xXx: The Return of Xander Cage dropped two places to number four.

Fifty Shades Darker continues to dominate the local box office, while Fences debuts at number ten

La La Land moved down only one position from fifth to sixth, fighting admirably to stay relevant in time for the Academy Awards this Sunday. Can we all agree that after the Oscars no one need ever mention this film again? Sweet. Thanks.

Another Oscar favourite Fences, starring Viola Davis and Denzel Washington, debuted at number ten. It pushed out horror Rings, now officially the lowest grossing film of the franchise.

The biggest dropper this weekend was star-studded Collateral Beauty in which abstract concepts visit Will Smith in the form of Helen Mirren and Keira Knightley. It fell from sixth to ninth.

Here are ten most-watched movies in South Africa this past weekend:

1. Fifty Shades Darker
2. The Great Wall (incl 3D & Imax)
3. The Lego Batman Movie (incl 3D)
4. xXx: The Return of Xander Cage (incl 3D, Imax & 4DX)
5. Collide
6. La La Land
7. Lion
8. Sing (incl 3D)
9. Collateral Beauty
10. Fences

All stats were provided by Ster Kinekor Entertainment.