Power Rangers may have been the shiny new thing – assuming yet another reboot of a well-worn concept can be described as "new" – at the American box office this weekend, but it couldn't crack the enchantment spell that Beauty And The Beast has cast over audiences. The latest of Disney's live-action transformations stayed top of the charts with $88.3 million, according to studio estimates.
Beauty lost just 49% of its business in the second week, boosting its US total to $316.9 million as its worldwide earnings crossed $690 million. By comparison, the latest version of Power Rangers took in $40.5 million and we'll have to wait and see if its combined domestic and foreign totals (it still has to roll out to several countries) will be enough to launch the much-hyped franchise that Lionsgate is looking to secure. Kong: Skull Island was pushed to third on $14.42 million, ahead of the second new arrival in the charts, sci-fi thriller Life. Despite a high concept and some star wattage, the movie opened fourth with $12.6 million, though it does at least have the benefit of a slightly lower budget than something like the new Rangers. Worldwide, Life has earned $28.7 million thus far.
Logan slipped to fifth from third on $10.1 million, while Get Out fell from fourth to sixth with $8.6 million (while celebrating passing the $150 million mark globally). Seventh place was new R-rated comedy CHiPs, which definitely hasn't captured the same sort of popularity as movies such as the Jump Street series. With just $7.6 million in its first weekend, we don't predict much enthusiasm for a sequel unless the overseas numbers are healthier.
The Shack was down to eighth place and $3.7 million, while The Lego Batman Movie hit ninth on $1.9 million. And rounding out the top 10 we have The Belko Experiment earning $1.8 million.