Warner Bros.’ “Wonka” enjoyed a barnstorming second weekend at the U.K. and Ireland box office with £6.3 million ($8.09 million), according to numbers released by Comscore.
After two weekends at the top, the Timothée Chalamet starrer now has a mighty total of £18.4 million. In the process, the film staved off the challenge of Anime Ltd’s “Godzilla Minus One,” which debuted in second place with £816,891. That total was enough to make “Godzilla Minus One” the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film in U.K. and Ireland box office history.
In third place, in its fifth weekend, Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes” collected £612,656 for a total of £15.8 million.
In fourth place, in its fourth weekend, Disney’s “Wish” earned £587,619 for a total of £6.6 million. Rounding off the top five was Sony’s “Napoleon” with £499,388 in its fourth weekend for a total of £12.4 million.
Warner Bros.’ “Saltburn” continued displaying strong legs with £302,326 in its fifth weekend for a total of £4.7 million in sixth place.
Bollywood epic “Animal,” starring Ranbir Kapoor, has crossed the £2 million mark, taking in £181,960 in its third weekend in eighth place.
The upcoming weekend, the wide release is “Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom,” which Warner Bros. is opening across more than 300 locations.
There are also two big releases from India this weekend. It has been the year of Shah Rukh Khan in India with him starring in the country’s two biggest hits of 2023 – “Jawan” and “Pathaan.” His third release of the year is immigration drama “Dunki,” distributed internationally by Yash Raj Films, from hitmaker Rajkumar Hirani (“3 Idiots,” “Sanju”), due on Dec. 21. “Baahubali” star Prabhas leads “Salaar: Cease Fire – Part 1,” from K.G.F. franchise helmer Prashanth Neel, distributed by DreamZ Entertainment U.K. The film opens Dec. 22.
Curzon is opening comedy-drama “Sweet Sue” on Dec. 22.
There are a clutch of releases on Boxing Day. Sony is opening “Anyone But You,” starring Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Alexandra Shipp, GaTa, Hadley Robinson, Michelle Hurd, Dermot Mulroney, Darren Barnet and Rachel Griffiths, wide across more than 300 sites. Disney is providing a similarly wide release to Taika Waititi’s “Next Goal Wins,” starring Michael Fassbender, Oscar Kightley, Kaimana, Will Arnett and Elisabeth Moss.
Black Bear is bowing Michael Mann’s hugely anticipated “Ferrari” with Adam Driver in the title role. Fans of Miyazaki Hayao will thrill to his latest film “The Boy and the Heron,” from Elysian Film Group Distribution. Also on Dec. 26, more family friendly fare arrives in the shape of “Cats In The Museum” from Miracle/Dazzler.
The following Friday, on Dec. 29, Modern Films is opening SXSW and Neuchâtel winner “Raging Grace”; Signature Entertainment sci-fi comedy-drama “Jules,” starring Ben Kingsley; and Sovereign Cannes title “Tchaikovsky’s Wife” by Kirill Serebrennikov.
