'Rogue One,' 'Hidden Figures' in photo finish; 'A Monster Calls' slips through the cracks

Weekend Box Office Estimates for Jan. 6 - 8, 2017

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) - We’ll have to wait until Monday when final numbers come in, as “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and “Hidden Figures” are neck and neck; both are reporting ticket sales just below $22 million.

Going into the weekend, estimates had “Rogue One” winning out with $24-30 million, but clearly the totals were a little inflated as the blockbuster now heads into its fourth week with a domestic total of $477 million. International numbers, including a so-so $31 million bow in China, are at $437 million. The worldwide total now sits at $914 million. That’s good enough for fifth place on the 2016 worldwide grosses. I believe the film still has a chance of catching current champion “Captain America: Civil War” at $1.1 billion, but a more realistic estimate has the film finishing in the same area of “Finding Dory” and “Zootopia.” Both of those films finished with just over $1 billion.

"Hidden Figures," Fox's new biopic about a group of African-America women who played significant roles in the early days of NASA, did about what was expected as it brought in $21.8 million. Strong reviews and a general sense of goodwill should help the film to hold strong over the next couple of weeks.

In third place is "Sing." The animated musical brought in an additional $19.5 million this weekend. That pushes the film's domestic total to $214 million. Factor in the international numbers and the film has grossed more than $350 million.

"Underworld: Blood Wars" brought in $13 million. That's less than the $20-25 million that the previous entries brought in over their opening weekends, but considering the film only cost in the area of $35 million to make and has already earned $40 million internationally, Sony should still be able to turn a profit. I haven't seen the film, but as someone who has always viewed the franchise as a guilty pleasure, I'm sure I will be sitting down in the next couple days to see it.

Fifth place goes to "La La Land;" the critically acclaimed musical starring Emma Stone andRyan Goslingbrought in $10 million. Domestically, the $35-million film has surpassed $50 million. Abroad the film has found success as well. The current international total is nearing $35 million. I expect this film to hold strong as we make our way through awards season.

The disappointment of the week was that "A Monster Calls," one of my favorite movies from any year, managed to only make $2 million. Sure, the film was a hit in Spain, where it has earned $30 million, but I find it disheartening that a film as magical and insightful as this is being ignored by the American masses. I understand that a film about a young boy coming to terms with his mother's terminal illness with the help of a monster is a little heavier than some might be prepared for, but if audiences continually reject visionary family films like this, "Hugo" and even this summer's "The B.F.G.,"we'll likely be forced to stomach a lifetime of films that strive to be cute, but never aspire to be anything more than the flavor of the week. When a film challenges you, that's a good thing. When it makes you think or see life differently, which "A Monster Calls" does, it should be cherished and celebrated.