Getting a little work done is one of those controversial open secrets in Hollywood, but sometimes the results can work out for those involved. Case in point? Sonic The Hedgehog, which after fan outcry at the first trailer, overhauled the effects of its central character, and the result has helped the film dash to the top spot at the US box office this Presidents' Day holiday weekend. Sonic earned $68 million across the four-day period, according to studio estimates.
With Valentine's Day at the start of the weekend, the results show Sonic earning $57 million for the usual three-day period, which represents the most successful opening for a video game adaptation, snatching the title from Pokemon: Detective Pikachu of last year. Expect a franchise to follow with all due speed.
Birds Of Prey – which saw its title changed to Harley Quinn: Birds Of Prey by ticket sellers in an attempt to goose its earnings and search-ability – slipped to second place on $19.5 million. This weekend's second new arrival, Fantasy Island landed third, making $14 million. It didn't score well with critics or audiences, but the low-budget drive of the Blumhouse team mean that it should still get into the profit zone. Fellow new release The Photograph jockeyed for position, taking home $13.3 million.
Bad Boys For Life fell to fifth place, adding $12.8 million, pushing its domestic take closer to $200 million, while 1917 was sixth with $9.3 million and Jumanji: The Next Level was down in seventh on $7 million.
Fresh off its huge success at the Oscars last weekend, Parasite surged, adding screens and leaping in terms of earnings to $6.6 million, and more than $44 million domestically so far. It's now one of the best earners in terms of foreign language films in the US and worldwide it has $204 million in the bank.
Dolittle was down to ninth on $6.3 million, but that was still a better result than misfiring comedy drama Downhill. The remake of Force Majeure couldn't seem to find its footing, launching with $5.1 million in 10th.