by 
Last updated on December 10th, 2021
“Chappie” technically topped the box office this weekend, but this Number 1 was anything but alive. The film earned $13.3 million on its opening weekend, less than even the modest amount its studio had wanted. Lousy reviews (it’s got a 30% Rotten Tomatoes rating) and looking rather low-budget (though it cost $49 million to make) and, well, just plain bad (like some R-rated modern “Short Circuit?”) doomed this film.
Elsewhere, “Kingsman: The Secret Service” came in at fourth place, earning $8.3 million (-30.1% from last weekend). The comic book adaptation totals so far stand at $98 million domestic, $150.3 million overseas, and $248.3 million globally.
In fifth place is “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water,” with another $7 million (-35.3%). Its totals stand at $149 million domestic, $110.4 million overseas, and $259.4 million globally.
Worth mentioning is comedy “Unfinished Business” bombing this weekend at the box office. The Vince Vaughn film opened in tenth place with $4.8 million (the film cost $35 million to make). The fact it got beaten by Johnny 5’s bargain basement cousin looks particularly bad.
Finally dropping out of the top 10, “American Sniper” has earned $337.2 million domestically. It’s now beaten “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” to become the top grossing film released in 2014.
Next weekend sees opening Liam Neeson’s latest action film “Run All Night,” and Disney’s live-action version of “Cinderella.” The latter is the first major new family film in weeks (though the Sponge One is still a draw), and should easily be #1 next weekend.
