Weekend box office: 'Godzilla' sequel stomps past 'Aladdin'

Weekend Box Office: May 31- June 2, 2019

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” can add “Champion of the Box Office” to its various titles as the massive-monster movie earned $49 million this weekend. That’s about half of the $93 million that 2014’s “Godzilla” earned over its first weekend and just bellow the $61 million that “Kong: Skull Island” opened to in 2017. Both of those films went on to earn more than $500 million worldwide. "King of the Monsters" did have a strong intentional opening of $ $130 million, for a worldwide total of $179 million. It will be interesting to see how the film holds overseas. Its domestic totals were never expected to be all that impressive. Generally dismissed by critics, the film earned a B+ from audiences according to CinemaScore. I found the film to be rather disappointing as it focused too heavily on the clichéd family-issues plot, rather than the monsters.

In its second weekend, Disney’s live action remake of “Aladdin” dipped 54% from last week’s opening with $42 million. The film’s domestic total is now $185 million. Worldwide the movie has now earned $445 million. That’s essentially $100 million more than both “Dumbo” and “Mary Poppins Returns” made during their entire runs.

“Rocketman,” the Elton John fantasy biography starring Taron Egerton as the singer, earned $25 million in its opening frame. Worldwide the film has earned $56 million against a production budget of $40 million. I didn't love the film nearly as much as I thought I would, but I had lofty expectations.

“Ma,” a thriller starring Octavia Spencer as a lonely, but seemingly kind woman who allows a group to party at her home, opened with $18 million. The film only cost $5 million to make.

“John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” earned $12.7 million. The action film starring Keanu Reeves as a famed assassin gone rogue has earned $221 million worldwide. That's $50 million more than the second film made and $133 million more than the original.

For those keeping score on “Avengers: Endgame,” its worldwide total is now $2.71 billion. That's just $75 million short of "Avatar."