Ford v. Ferrari’ roars to front of N.American box office

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WASHINGTON, Nov 18, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – New Fox release “Ford v. Ferrari”
roared to the front in North American box offices over the weekend, taking in
an estimated $31 million on an overall slow weekend, industry watcher
Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

The film is based on the true story of how a team at Ford under legendary
designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and working with British driver Ken
Miles (Christian Bale) builds a car to challenge Ferrari’s longtime dominance
of France’s classic 24-hour Le Mans race.

The film garnered a rare A+ CinemaScore from viewers, the highest among new
nationwide offerings, which should help it recoup its $100 million production
cost, Variety reported.

In second was last week’s leader, Lionsgate’s “Midway,” with $8.8 million
in Friday-to-Sunday ticket sales, just half its opening-weekend take. The PG-
rated film looks at the pivotal naval battle between US and Japanese forces
in the Pacific in June 1942.

A new chapter in the “Charlie’s Angels” saga opened in third place, taking
in what analysts called a disappointing $8.6 million.

The Angels’ last big-screen film, in 2003, debuted to a far more impressive
$37 million. Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska star as the trio
of glamorous spies with a mission to save the world.

Paramount’s comedy “Playing With Fire” placed fourth at $8.55 million. John
Cena, Keegan-Michael Key and John Leguizamo portray a crew of tough
firefighters who rescue three unruly siblings and end up having to babysit
them.

Fifth place went to Universal’s early-arriving “Last Christmas,” at $6.7
million. Emilia Clarke plays Kate, who is none too happy about her job as a
department store elf until she meets handsome Tom (Henry Golding), who seems
— perhaps is? — too good to be true.

Overall, it was a strikingly anemic showing for the weekend’s top five,
which took in a total $63.6 million, less than half the $143.4 earned by the
top five in the year-earlier period, Exhibitor Relations said.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

“Doctor Sleep” ($6.2 million)

“The Good Liar” ($5.7 million)

“Joker” ($5.6 million)

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” ($5.2 million)

“Harriet” ($4.8 million)