Disney's 'Moana' conquers N. American box office again
THE animated sea-faring musical adventure Moana triumphed for its third-straight weekend, topping the North American box office with US$18.5 million, industry data showed on Monday.
The Disney film about a brave Polynesian teenager on a risky mission to save her people has raked in US$145 million since its opening on Thanksgiving Day, Exhibitor Relations said.
It was awarded Monday with two Golden Globes nominations, for best animated film and best original song for Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda's catchy track How Far I'll Go.
Office Christmas Party, a comedy starring Jennifer Aniston, took second in its debut week with US$16.9 million.
The 47-year-old Friends star plays an uptight corporate CEO who wants to close down a branch office run by her brother, who responds by staging a mega-party aimed at landing a new client and keeping the branch alive.
The Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them dropped to third spot during its fourth week in theatres, chalking up US$10.4 million for a total of US$198.9 million so far.
Based on a 2001 book by Potter novelist J.K. Rowling, the Warner Bros. film stars Eddie Redmayne as a wizard in 1920s New York.
Fourth place went to the alien invasion movie Arrival, starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, as it posted US$5.6 million.
The movie received two Golden Globes nominations – best original score and best actress in a drama for Adams, who plays a linguist recruited to communicate with aliens after mysterious spacecraft appear over the Earth.
Marvel's Doctor Strange came fifth with US$4.5 million for a total of US$222.3 million.
The movie, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as neurosurgeon Stephen Strange – whose life changes forever after a horrific car accident – is the 14th film in Disney's "Marvel Cinematic Universe."
Rounding out the top 10 films were:
Allied (US$4.0 million)
Nocturnal Animals (US$3.2 million)
Manchester by the Sea (US$3.1 million)
Trolls (US$3.0 million)
Hacksaw Ridge (US$2.3 million) — AFP