The Jungle Book ravages the box office competition

Did anyone had any doubts? Disney's The Jungle Book stomped over the competition with a smashing estimated $87 million to claim the #1 spot at the box office. The live action CGI filled second remake of the animation classic (anyone remembers the ill fated Jason Scott Lee 90's version which, by the way, was a damn good movie?). The film has a current Rotten Tomatoes score of 95% certified fresh and seems to be a crowd pleaser, so it might continue doing well until its bigger threat Captain America: Civil War opens on May 05.

In the second spot and debuting with glowing reviews is yet another sequel Barber Shop: The Next Cut which took a hefty $20 million which is telling of the popularity of this Ice Cube comedy franchise.

Descending from last week's ruler and now in the third spot is the raunchy comedy The Boss which is fading fast with an almost 60% drop or $9.7 million.

Droping to the fourth spot in its fourth weekend Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice had yet another 60% drop and grabbed only $9.4 million, which is lower than the numbers made by "Man of Steel" on its fourth weekend. The Warner Bros costly tentpole has a current estimated domestic gross of $311 million, but keep in mind that half of that amount was grossed on its debut weekend! Worldwide Zootopia is beating the DC film easily. Our brand is in crisis!!!

Final actual numbers will be available on Monday.

 

Jungle Book looks great from the clips but not sure I can be bothered to go and see it in theaters.

 

Why? Because it has 'Jungle' in the title? ::

 

Update (6:35PM):

The Jungle Book grossed $103 million, not $87 like Variety prematurely reported and places it as the second best April opening ever.

the Boss did a little bit better ($10.1 million) and 'Batman v Superman' did a bit worst with just $9 million.

 

The Disney cartoon was one of my favourites as a kid.

 

That film and 'The Sword in the Stone' are my least favorite Disney animated films. I like the original 1940's live action version with Sabu and the Jason Scott Lee 90's version.

 

Saw Jungle Book yesterday with the gf and nephew. It's actually DAMN GOOD! Very much enjoyable and entertaining, even for adults. I'd honestly watch it again. 8.5/10.

 

Yeah, it got great reviews from both critics & audiences.


And that could spell disaster for the Warner Bros version that will be competing with this one in the minds, hearts & pockets of audiences. This is one of those 'dueling film projects' where studios make similar movies almost simultaneously. WB is playing chicken and will be pushing their version farther from this blockbuster from Disney. Their version has Andy Serkis, the motion-capture master behind “The Lord of the Rings'” Gollum, to direct and has assembled a top-shelf cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale and Benedict Cumberbatch. Maybe they'll make it darker and more adult oriented...just like their brilliant plan for 'Batman vSuperman'. IMO they should just tap out, admit defeat and shelve this project for a few years.

 

To answer your earlier question - I have NOT forgotten The Jungle Book from the mid-90s.

And I agree, it was a really good movie.

Very DIFFERENT from the traditional story as well. And no talking animals.

 

Very underrated film and forgotten by many. I think the main problem with it was that by casting a muscular adult (Jason Scott Lee) in the role Mowgli and turning the film into an action film of good versus evil, many people saw it as a Tarzan rip-off.


But if Warner Bros will continue with their certain to be a flop production, I would suggest to them to revamp the whole thing and make Mowgli into a scantily clad sexy female with lot of sexual innuendos like in a recent comic book version. I'll watch that!