‘Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle’ Still Reigns [Box Office]

A quiet January for new releases means that Dwayne Johnson and co. simply can’t be stopped. For the third straight week, “Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle” has retained its top spot at the box office. The film has been nothing short of sensational, leaping past $300 million domestic, with its worldwide total crossing the $700 million barrier. Now in its fifth week of release, Sony continues to remain mum about any sequel possibilities — perhaps they’re still locking down deals — but you know it’s an inevitability at this point. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. is looking at these numbers and salivating because The Rock will be leading their big summer movie “Rampage,” though it looks to be slightly less family friendly than this one. Nonetheless, it seems Dwayne Johnson can pack ’em in regardless of age.

The true story war drama “12 Strong” opened with $16.5 million, despite an ensemble featuring a rogues gallery of character actors, all led by the mighty Chris Hemsworth. Reviews weren’t so hot, and there didn’t seem to be much interest for the picture. All that chatter about Hemsworth being eager to sign a new deal with Marvel makes sense, given that outside the blockbuster franchise, the actor has yet to open a movie above $20 million on his own. Expect him to keep hitting the gym to maintain his superhero physique.

STX must be wondering what they did right with “Den Of Thieves.” Despite bad reviews and Gerard Butler, the bloated, R-rated heist flick managed a pretty solid $15.3 million. Chalk it up to a quiet month for wide releases, and perhaps audiences wanting to switch gears from Oscar pictures to something a bit more brainless. Maybe Butler’s career has a bit more life in it, but the actor is going to have to start making better choices. As for STX, they continue to find modest success with mid-budget niche genre pictures — “Molly’s Game,” “A Bad Moms Christmas,” “The Foreigner” — but I’m sure they’d love to have a four quadrant hit sometime soon.

Rounding out the top ten, the glossy, not-Nicholas Sparks romantic drama “Forever My Girl” earned $4 million for Roadside Attractions. Expect this at a Redbox near you sometime soon.

Lastly, at the arthouse, GKids had a quiet weekend with “Mary And The Witch’s Flower” earning $329,097 from 161 cinemas (per screen average: $2,044).

1. “Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle” — $20 million ($316.9 mil.)
2. “12 Strong” — $16.5 million
3. “Den Of Thieves” — $15.3 million
4. “The Post” — $12.1 million ($45.1 mil.)
5. “The Greatest Showman” — $11 million ($113.4 mil.)
6. “Paddington 2” — $8.2 million ($25 mil.)
7. “The Commuter” — $6.6 million ($25.7 mil.)
8. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” — $6.5 million ($604.2 mil.)
9. “Insidious: The Last Key” — $5.9 million ($58.7 mil.)
10. “Forever My Girl” — $4.7 million