‘Captain Marvel’ clobbers the competition to stay atop box office

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LOS ANGELES, March 18, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Female-led superhero movie “Captain
Marvel” took in an estimated $69.3 million over the weekend, outearning the
combined North American totals of the next nine films, industry watcher
Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.

The Disney/Marvel blockbuster had a huge opening last weekend — the
biggest ever for a female-fronted superhero flick — and, with the foreign
total of $494 million added in, “is now assured of ultimately earning $1
billion,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The film, which stars Brie Larson as a former fighter pilot who gains
superpowers and finds herself embroiled in a galactic conflict, has already
passed the lifetime takes of superhero adventures including “Ant-Man and the
Wasp” and “Iron Man 2,” according to Variety.

Far back in second spot for this three-day weekend was a new animated
production from Paramount, “Wonder Park,” at $16 million.

The film, set in an amusement park based on the imaginings of a young girl
(Brianna Denski, whose previous work included a Lysol commercial), has far to
go to make up the nearly $100 million Paramount spent to make it. Jennifer
Garner, Matthew Broderick, Mila Kunis and John Oliver also provide voices.

In third was another new release, CBS and Lionsgate’s teen drama “Five Feet
Apart,” at $13.2 million. It stars Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse as
teens who fall in love while being treated for cystic fibrosis, a disease
that requires them to keep a distance from each other.

Universal’s “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” took in $9.3
million for fourth place. Voiced by Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate
Blanchett and F. Murray Abraham, it tells the story of young Hiccup and his
dragon Toothless on their quest to find a dragon utopia.

And in fifth was Lionsgate’s “A Madea Family Funeral” at $8.1 million.
Actor/director Tyler Perry, who plays the irreverent title character, says it
will be the last in the profitable Madea series.

Rounding out the weekend’s top 10 were:

“No Manches Frida 2” ($3.9 million)

“Captive State” ($3.2 million)

“The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” ($2.1 million)

“Alita: Battle Angel” ($1.9 million)

“Green Book” ($1.3 million)