Disney’s The Lion King returns to top of Australian box office
After being knocked off the top spot by Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs and Shaw last week, Disney’s remake of the 1994 animated classic The Lion King has surged back to the top of the box office for its fifth week of release, taking another $4.2m to add to a total of $55.1m.
The film adds that to a global revenue of US$1.3b USD, making it the highest earning animated film of all time, surpassing Frozen, although there is some debate over whether it should be categorised as an animated title or a live-action title.
Hobbs and Shaw took $3.9m for its second week of release, showing across 520 screens compared to The Lion King’s 530 and dropping into second position. It adds to a running total of $12.8m.
New release Palm Beach debuted in the third spot, taking $1.1m across the weekend box office over 250 screens. The Australian film was directed by Rachel Ward and stars Sam Neill, Bryan Brown, Richard E. Grant, Jacqueline McKenzie and Greta Scacchi. It follows the story of a group of old friends who reunite at Sydney’s Palm Beach.
Australian war film Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan also made its debut on the weekend, taking $775,281 across 225 screens. The film is directed by Red Dog director Kriv Stenders and stars Travis Fimmel, Luke Bracey and Daniel Webber as military personnel who fought at the Battle of Long Tan during the Vietnam War.
Nisha Ganatra directed comedy Late Night landed in fifth spot for its Australian box office debut, taking $761,030 across 301 screens. Starring Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson, the film follows a late-night talk show host, played by Thompson, who hires a new team of writers to save her struggling career.
Spider-Man: Far From Home brought in another $415,111 for its seventh week out, adding to a running total of $36.8m and dropping 38% from the week prior. BTS documentary Bring The Soul: The Movie brought in $404,048 across 106 screens, with its release punctuated by news that the band are taking an extended hiatus. That hasn’t stopped the movie pushing to a global total of US$12.6m.
Toy Story 4 and Yesterday held the next two spots in the top ten, bringing in $376,307 and $247,298 respectively, while horror flick Midsommar made its debut at tenth place, bringing in $185,702 across just 16 screens. The movie comes from Hereditary director Ari Aster and stars Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, and Will Poulter. It follows a group of friends who travel to Sweden for an annual festival, only to find themselves drawn into a pagan cult.
| Title (Distributor) | Weekend B/O | Screens | Total B/O |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Lion King (2019) (Disney) | $4,165,759 | 530 | $55,140,686 |
| Fast & Furious: Hobbs And Shaw (Universal) | $3,879,192 | 520 | $12,798,595 |
| Palm Beach (Universal) | $1,142,267 | 250 | $1,233,877 |
| Danger Close: The Battle Of Long Tan (Transmission) | $775,281 | 225 | $789,285 |
| Late Night (Roadshow) | $761,030 | 301 | $983,721 |
| Spider-man: Far From Home (Sony) | $415,111 | 211 | $36,783,809 |
| Bring The Soul: The Movie (Trafalgar) | $404,048 | 106 | $523,982 |
| Toy Story 4 (Disney) | $376,307 | 215 | $40,900,854 |
| Yesterday (Universal) | $247,298 | 178 | $13,188,610 |
| Midsommar (Roadshow) | $185,702 | 16 | $223,371 |
| Hello, Love, Goodbye (Abs-cbn Distributors) | $125,886 | 16 | $125,886 |
| The Keeper (Icon) | $124,262 | 110 | $847,311 |
| The Secret Life Of Pets 2 (Universal) | $117,044 | 139 | $18,429,285 |
| Rocketman (Paramount) | $104,369 | 189 | $20,130,118 |
| Who You Think I Am (Palace) | $90,772 | 20 | $475,644 |
| Chal Mera Putt (Mindblowing Films) | $73,652 | 37 | $892,468 |
| The Bravest (Sony) | $67,422 | 19 | $224,224 |
| Apollo 11 (Madman) | $63,396 | 39 | $1,136,025 |
| Aladdin (live Action) (Disney) | $54,015 | 59 | $35,099,623 |
| The White Crow (Universal) | $52,984 | 54 | $774,910 |
