SA’s box office: Blade Runner 2049 tops charts, but is it enough?

Blade Runner 2049 has crashed into the top of South African box office charts this weekend, but it doesn’t seem enough for the blockbuster. Despite raking in rave reviews — Rolling Stone called it an “instant classic” — the film has not pulled in the opening weekend it expected.

Many predicted the long-awaited sequel would make around US$45-million in the US, but after a disappointing opening weekend, Blade Runner 2049 only managed US$31.5-million. Its production budget sits around US$150-million.

But what about the rest of the chart this weekend? (6 – 8 October)

The Emoji Movie has defied gravity (and Pennywise the Clown) to jump up from third spot to second, forcing last week’s number one, Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle, down into third. The animated film has held its own despite sharing the spotlight with several new kids films on the block.

This weekend at South Africa’s box office saw Blade Runner 2049 take home top prize, with The Emoji Movie not far behind

My Little Pony had a moderate opening in sixth spot, and has so far only pulled in US$12.6-million worldwide. The Lego Ninjago Movie was bumped down one spot to fifth in its second week on the charts, though it’s managed nearly US$80-million worldwide.

The highest life-to-date grosser in SA, though, is still Stephen King adaptation It, despite falling two spots down to fourth.  The film has now brought in R17.8-million in four weekends.

The biggest drop of the week goes to American Assassin, which has slid from sixth place right off the charts despite still showing in cinemas. The second-biggest drop came in the form of other Stephen King adaptation The Dark Tower, which fell three from fifth to eighth.

Finally, the only local film on the chart is Afrikaans drama Vaselinetjie, now in ninth place from last week’s seventh. Box Office Mojo estimates that the film has brought in US$207 437, which is currently around R2.8-million.

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

1. Blade Runner 2049 (Incl. 3D, IMAX & 4DX)
2. The Emoji Movie (Incl. 3D)
3. Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle (Incl. 3D, 4DX, & IMAX)
4. It (Incl. IMAX & 4DX)
5. The Lego Ninjago Movie (Incl. IMAX & 3D)
6. My Little Pony
7. Big Sick
8. Dark Tower (Incl. 4DX)
9. Vaselinetjie
10. Victoria and Abdul

The above list was provided by Ster Kinekor Entertainment.