By Sandy Cohen, Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --"Star Wars" is still dominating the movie universe, with "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" leading the box office for a fourth straight week.
The intergalactic adventure edged out the NASA drama "Hidden Figures" for the top spot this weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. "Rogue One" brought in $21.97 million. "Hidden Figures" — which expanded by more than 2,000 theaters Friday after opening in limited release — collected $21.8 million.
"It's a great weekend for space movies," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box office tracker comScore, noting that the Jennifer Lawrence-Chris Pratt space story "Passengers" also remains among the top 10.
"Rogue One," though, has been unstoppable, Dergarabedian said, and is expected to top "Finding Dory" as the biggest box-office success of 2016.
The animated animal musical "Sing" was in third place this weekend, taking in another $19.5 million for a three-week haul of $213.3 million. "Underworld: Blood Wars" debuted in fourth place with $13.1 million, followed by the celebrated musical "La La Land" with $10 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," $21.97 million ($56.6 million international).
2. "Hidden Figures," $21.8 million.
3. "Sing," 19.5 million ($26.4 million international).
4. "Underworld: Blood Wars," $13.1 million.
5. "La La Land," $10 million. ($3.8 million international)
6. "Passengers," $8.8 million ($32.7 million international).
7. "Why Him?" $6.5 million ($6.1 million international).
8. "Moana," $6.4 million ($20 million international).
9. "Fences," $4.7 million.
10. "Assassin's Creed," $3.8 million ($45 million international).
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:
1. "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," $56.6 million.
2. "Assassin's Creed," $45 million.
3. "Passengers," $32.7 million.
4. "Sing," $26.4 million.
5. "Moana," $20 million.
6. "The Great Wall," $12 million.
7. "Some Like it Hot (Qing Sheng)," $11.3 million.
8. "Your Name," $6.9 million.
9. "Collateral Beauty," $6.6 million.
10. "Why Him?" $6.1 million.
Review: Writer-Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood’s “Heretic”
"Heretic" opens with an unusual table setter: Two young missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are discussing condoms and why some are labeled as large even though they're all pretty much a standard size. "What else do we believe because of marketing?" one asks the other.
That line will echo through the movie, a stimulating discussion of religion that emerges from a horror movie wrapper. Despite a second-half slide and feeling unbalanced, this is the rare movie that combines lots of squirting blood and elevated discussion of the ancient Egyptian god Horus.
Our two church members — played fiercely by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East — are wandering around trying to covert souls when they knock on the door of a sweet-looking cottage. Its owner, Mr. Reed, offers a hearty "Good afternoon!" He welcomes them in, brings them drinks and promises a blueberry pie. He's also interested in learning more about the church. So far, so good.
Mr. Reed is, of course, if you've seen the poster, the baddie and he's played by Hugh Grant, who doesn't go the snarling, dead-eyed Hannibal Lecter route in "Heretic." Grant is the slightly bumbling, bashful and self-mocking character we fell in love with in "Four Weddings and a Funeral," but with a smear of menace. He gradually reveals that he actually knows quite a bit about the Mormon religion — and all religions.
"It's good to be religious," he says jauntily and promises his wife will join them soon, a requirement for the church. Homey touches in his home include a framed "Bless This Mess" needlepoint on a wall, but there are also oddities, like his lights are on a timer and there's metal in the walls and ceilings.
Writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood — who also... Read More