LOS ANGELES, Oct 10 — Long-awaited sequel Blade Runner: 2049 snatched the box office top spot this weekend — three and a half decades since Blade Runner hit the big screen in 1982, industry figures showed yesterday.
But with takings of US$32.8 million (RM138.81 million) in North American theaters, the sci-fi reboot — featuring original star Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling — didn’t enjoy the sensational opening its rave reviews suggested it might.
Blade Runner: 2049 sees Gosling as a new Los Angeles Police Department “blade runner” — charged with killing bioengineered androids known as “replicants”.
On uncovering a secret which threatens society, he embarks on a search for Harrison Ford’s character, a former blade runner who disappeared 30 years ago.
Despite a disappointing first weekend, Blade Runner did not face much competition for the top spot — with Fox’s The Mountain Between Us in second place, earning just US$10.6 million, according to industry monitor Exhibitor Relations.
Starring Kate Winslet and Idris Elba, The Mountain Between Us tells the story of a surgeon (Elba) and a journalist (Winslet), who fall in love as they fight to survive following a plane crash on a snowy Utah mountain range.
Meanwhile, with takings dropping from last week’s US$16.9 million to US$10 million, freaky horror hit It — based on the Stephen King novel — settled for third place in its fifth week in theaters.
In fourth, earning US$8.9 million, was Lionsgate animation My Little Pony: The Movie — featuring star-studded voiceovers from the likes of Emily Blunt and Australian singer Sia.
But it was a fall from grace for espionage comedy Kingsman: The Golden Circle, which — having taken the crown last week — dropped to fifth place with earnings of US$8.7 million.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
American Made (US$8.4 million)
The Lego Ninjago Movie (US$7 million)
Victoria and Abdul (US$4.2 million)
Flatliners (US$4 million)
Battle of the Sexes (US$2.6 million). — AFP
