SA’s box office: Maze Runner fells Jumanji

The final film in the Maze Runner trilogy has ousted Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle from its four-week reign at the top. The Dylan O’Brien-led The Death Cure has proved a hit in Southern Africa — which is good, because the film was produced in Cape Town and we’d all be very angry if audiences didn’t show it some respect.

We may not have water, but we have fake zombies fighting in Civic Centre, and we’re glad you recognise the feat.

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Cape Town-shot Maze Runner: The Death Cure opened in first place this week

If Cape Town killed, how did other films fare this weekend? (26 – 28 January)

Jumanji is hardly shedding tears over its fall to number two — the sequel is still the highest life-to-date grosser on the chart with over R52.2-million in revenue. It has already surpassed Despicable Me 3, which was the second-highest grossing film of last year, but it doesn’t look set to take on 2017’s strongest contender, Fast and Furious 8.

The Greatest Showman won the musical showdown against Pitch Perfect 3 (review), clinging to fourth spot and forcing the Barden Bellas down two to fifth. Pitch Perfect 3 is doing well worldwide, having already made more than the original film. It shouldn’t outdo Pitch Perfect 2.

Newcomers Proud Mary and The Post opened in seventh and eighth spots respectively. The former is a sadly under-marketed action film starring Taraji P Henson as an assassin; the latter is an Oscar-nominated drama starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep. But I guess South Africa wanted zombies.

Proud Mary and The Post opened in seventh and eighth spots respectively

Zombies — not demons. The biggest fall of the week went to Insidious: The Last Key, down three spots from sixth to ninth. It’s only the second week on the chart for the horror film, but I guess we all have enough demons of our own. Too real?

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

1. Maze Runner: The Death Cure (Incl 3D, IMAZ, 4DX & D.BOX) (NEW)
2. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (Incl. 3D, IMAX, 4DX & D.BOX)** (-1)
3. The Commuter (Incl. IMAX & D.BOX) (-1)
4. The Greatest Showman (±0)
5. Pitch Perfect 3 (-2)
6. Ferdinand (Incl. 3D) (-1)
7. Proud Mary (NEW)
8. The Post (NEW)
9. Insidious: The Last Key (-3)
10. Monster Family (Incl. 3D) (NEW)

**Highest life-to-date grosser with R52 214 520.

The above list was provided by Ster-Kinekor Entertainment.