Box Office Round Up - 1-14-19

Controversy? What controversy? Kevin Hart shook off all the drama surrounding his brief tenure as Oscars host to take his latest film The Upside to the top of the box office. The movie, a remake of the critically-acclaimed 2011 French film The Intouchables, sees Hart star as an ex-con hired as personal help to a quadriplegic billionare played by Bryan Cranston.

This Oscars drama actually isn't the first controversy this remake has had to deal with, as it was supposed to be released last year by The Weinstein Company but got shelved when it went under. A production that began with award season in mind was ultimately dumped into the January dead zone. It's a shame, as both leading men put in excellent performances in what's effectively Hart's first dramatic role. Guess it's time to take a clue from the movie and try to find the upside.
 
The only other movie debuting in the top ten is the family adventure A Dog's Way Home, another journey into the mind of man's best friend. Bryce Dallas Howard voices Bella, a dog who must travel over 400 miles to return to her owner. It's very reminiscent of the great Homeward Bound series, where Michael J. Fox voiced the lead dog. Unfortunately, if critics are to be believed, those films executed this premise with a much defter touch. Nevertheless, the debut at number three puts it on track to at least turn a profit. Any movies with Edward James Olmos get a thumbs up from us, at least.
 
Elsewhere in the top ten, it's a host of familiar faces. Aquaman drops to number two but officially crosses the $1 billion threshold, by far the highest grossing installment in the DC extended universe. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse actually moves up from five to four following its win for Best Animated Feature at the Golden Globes. You hear that, Star Wars? Phil Lord and Christopher Miller know what they're doing. Trust them next time. Finally, thriller Escape Room holds on in the top five for another week for a total gross approaching $40 million, an excellent showing for a film with a micro-budget. Horror as a genre continues to go through a resurgence entering 2019. See you next week!
 
1. The Upside ($19.6 MM)
Director: Neil Burger (CAA | Anonymous Content)
Writer: Jon Hartmere (CAA)
 
Cast: Kevin Hart (UTA | 3 Arts)
        Bryan Cranston  (UTA)
        Nicole Kidman (CAA)
 
 
2.  Aquaman ($17.3 MM)
Director: James Wan (Paradigm)
Writers: David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (Paradigm), Will Beall (CAA)
 
Cast: Jason Momoa (WME)
        Amber Heard  (WME)
        Willem Dafoe (CAA)
 
 
3. A Dog's Way Home ($11.3 MM)
Director: Charles Martin Smith (APA)
Writers: W. Bruce Cameron (Sheri Kelton), Cathryn Michon (Sheri Kelton)
 
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard (WME | Management 360)
        Ashley Judd (WME | Anonymous Content)
        Alexandra Shipp (WME)
 
 
4. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse ($9 MM)
Directors: Bob Persichetti (UTA), Peter Ramsey (Verve), Rodney Rothman (UTA)
Writers: Phil Lord (UTA), Rodney Rothman
 
Cast: Shameik Moore (CAA)
        Jake Johnson  (UTA | 3 Arts)
        Hailee Steinfeld (CAA)
 
 
5. Escape Room ($8.9 MM)
Director: Adam Robitel (CAA)
Writesr: Bragi F. Schut (Verve), Maria Melnik (WME) 
 
Cast: Taylor Russell (UTA)
        Logan Miller (Innovative Artists)
        Deborah Ann Woll (CAA)