Australia’s Lion holds first place at weekend box office after Academy Award nomination
Independent Australian film Lion has held onto the top spot at the box office over the weekend for the second consecutive week, following its Academy Award nomination for best picture.
Created by Transmission Films, the film, which tells the story of Indian-born Australian businessman Saroo Brierley and stars Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman, made $4.185m over the weekend.
According to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia’s report, the film has collected a total earnings of $11.419m across the eleven days since its debut.
Richard Payten and Andrew Mackie, Australian distributor Transmission Films, said in a release: “It is so gratifying to see Saroo’s story connect with audiences. The positive feedback has been overwhelming. At a time when the world seems to be fractured, Lion offers hope and joy. Its themes of love and family shine bright for audiences worldwide.”
Debuting on the 26th of January, M. Night Shyamalan’s Split placed number two at weekend box office, collecting $3.464m.
M. Night Shyamalan latest film tells the story of a man with 23 recognised personalities and his inner fight for survival when he becomes compelled to kidnap three teenagers.
XXX 3: The Return of Xander Cage slipped to third place from second place in its second weekend of box office, making a total of $1.336m.
The Paramount film featuring Vin Diesel has made a total of $5.523m since its debut.
Sony’s Residential Evil: The Final Chapter managed fourth place in its first weekend at box office, collecting $1.253m.
The film, starring Milla Jovovich, is based on the video game series Capcom, and tells the story of a woman’s fight as the only survivor of a final stand against the undead.
The film has earned a total of $1.360m since its debut on Australia Day.
In fifth place, La La Land achieved $1.179m at the weekend box office, taking its total local box office to $15.502m.
| Title (Distributor) | Weekend B/O | Screens | Total B/O |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lion (Transmission) | $4,185,509 | 257 | $11,419,215 |
| Split (Universal) | $3,464,324 | 289 | $3,673,545 |
| Xxx 3: The Return Of Xander Cage (Paramount) | $1,336,039 | 331 | $5,523,708 |
| Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (Sony) | $1,253,276 | 258 | $1,360,280 |
| La La Land (Eone) | $1,179,571 | 257 | $15,502,337 |
| Moana (Disney) | $942,663 | 282 | $24,320,137 |
| Sing (Universal) | $913,588 | 290 | $27,457,618 |
| Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Disney) | $627,089 | 271 | $50,099,739 |
| Ballerina (Studiocanal) | $599,367 | 238 | $3,698,455 |
| Monster Trucks (Paramount) | $573,062 | 235 | $4,394,367 |
| Live By Night (Wb) | $477,613 | 218 | $575,006 |
| Raees (Mindblowing Films) | $469,972 | 29 | $653,083 |
| Passengers (Roadshow) | $463,273 | 198 | $13,988,390 |
| Middle School: The Worst Year Of My Life (Roadshow) | $337,765 | 173 | $3,064,242 |
| Allied (Paramount) | $284,158 | 203 | $11,685,203 |
| Jackie (Eone) | $242,293 | 75 | $1,675,203 |
| Why Him? (Fox) | $221,540 | 0 | $10,790,931 |
| United Kingdom, A (Transmission) | $214,893 | 58 | $2,266,483 |
| Moonlight (Roadshow) | $214,099 | 25 | $307,036 |
| Perfect Strangers (Palace) | $183,144 | 23 | $556,594 |
