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Warner Bros horror movie IT dominates weekend box office

Horror movie IT made more than $7m across 548 screens in its first weekend at the Australian box office, grossing six times its nearest competitor, Hitman’s Bodyguard.

The film made headlines following its US launch on September 8, earning US$117.2m (AU$145.55m) at the US domestic box office on its opening weekend, and US$62m (AU$77.246m) globally. 

It also overtook 2011’s Paranormal Activity 3, as the largest opening day for a R-rated thriller in the US.

Based on the Stephen King novel, IT tells the story of seven young outcasts in Maine, who are faced with a shape-shifting evil clown, Pennywise, who emerges from the sewer every 27 years to prey on children.

In the week leading up to the local premiere, Village Roadshow Films and experiential agency Mr Glasses created hand-painted billboards and placed red balloons in front of drains across various cities.

Hitman’s Bodyguard, which made $2.330m in its opening weekend, earned $1.257m across 267 screens, slipping from first to second place. It has made $4.975m to date.

In third place was Girl’s Trip, which managed to make $954,165 at the weekend box office, bringing its total to $2.875m, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.

Action film American Made fell from second to fourth over the weekend, earning $781,460 across 300 screens.

Warner Bros’ Dunkirk managed to scrape a spot in the top five, making $258,499. Since its premiere in July, Dunkirk has made $22.970m.

Title (Distributor) Weekend B/O Screens Total B/O
It (Wb) $7,467,255 548 $7,467,255
The Hitman's Bodyguard (Roadshow) $1,257,901 267 $4,975,201
Girl's Trip (Universal) $954,165 237 $2,875,554
American Made (Universal) $781,460 300 $5,675,649
Dunkirk (Wb) $258,499 163 $22,970,394
The Emoji Movie (Sony) $201,320 144 $237,119
Ali's Wedding (Madman) $191,836 55 $591,337
Hampstead (Eone) $183,031 225 $2,606,361
Annabelle: Creation (Wb) $163,405 173 $7,065,911
Gifted (Roadshow) $135,907 99 $436,408
Celebrate Studio Gibili (Madman) $127,869 53 $670,923
The Dark Tower (Sony) $104,601 149 $3,110,387
The Dinner (Icon) $103,431 58 $118,429
The Big Sick (Roadshow) $70,964 66 $4,266,498
The King's Choice (Palace) $58,933 22 $466,430
Madame (Studiocanal) $50,530 39 $471,732
Maudie (Transmission) $39,736 33 $312,361
War For The Planet Of The Apes (Fox) $38,400 57 $10,377,877
Despicable Me 3 (Universal) $37,702 79 $32,901,598
47 Meters Down (Vendetta) $34,501 51 $481,913
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