The Croods: A New Age was the box office champion for the third week straight after scoring $3 million domestically.
The computer-animated sequel was helped along by a lack of major new wide-release films, as studios have held many of their biggest projects for 2021 in hopes of bringing viewers back to theaters.
The anemic pandemic box office has also shown older films and holiday favorites like Elf (2003) are still solid performers against a relatively modest slate, according to Variety.
Not extinct yet: The Croods: A New Age led the domestic box office for the third week in a row and $3 million more, according to Variety; still from The Croods 2
After three weeks at number one, The Croods 2 has earned $24.1 million domestically, while its $8.4 million global haul brings its worldwide total up to $76.3 million.
Even though it leads its competitors, the film will likely have a hard time coming close to the first movie’s box office haul of $587.2 million.
It will also be competing with Christmas day releases including Wonder Woman 1984, which will be released simultaneously in theaters and for subscribers of Warner Media’s HBO Max subscription service.
Coming in at second was the Focus Features dramedy Half Brothers, which earned $490,000 from 1,386 locations.
Elf has continued to do well in its fifth week of rerelease as it added 125 new locations and earned $390,000.
Top film: The Croods 2 will have new competition soon from Christmas day releases including Wonder Woman 1984, which will be released simultaneously in theaters and for subscribers of Warner Media’s HBO Max subscription service; still from The Croods 2
New success: Coming in at second was the Focus Features dramedy Half Brothers, which earned $490,000 from 1,386 locations
Modern classic: Elf has continued to do well in its fifth week of rerelease as it added 125 new locations and earned $390,000
Universal’s recently came to an agreement with major theater chains in which its films can move to video on demand (VOD) sooner than is traditional if the film doesn’t surpass certain grosses.
Because of that, the distributor has been more willing to release certain titles than other major companies, as they can be moved to less costly streaming and rental services if they fail to gain traction in theaters.
Universal’s body-swap horror–comedy Freaky continued to perform solidly at number four with $315,000, bringing the total for the Vince Vaughn vehicle to $8.2 million.
Robert De Niro’s family comedy The War With Grandpa has shown remarkable staying power over more than two months in theaters.
It earned another $206,000 for a domestic total of $17.96 million.
Going strong: Universal’s body-swap horror–comedy Freaky continued to perform solidly at number four with $315,000, bringing the total for the Vince Vaughn vehicle to $8.2 million
Fifth place: The Robert De Niro family comedy The War With Grandpa has proven to be resilient after debuting in mid-October. It earned another $206,000 for a total of $17.96 million
Other Christmas favorites National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and The Polar Express came in sixth and seventh place, with both earning about $237,000.
The Jessica Rothe-starring romance All My Life earned $215,000 in its second week, while the horror film Come Play rounded out the top 10 with $175,000 in its seventh week in theaters.
Among new limited-release films was Wild Mountain Thyme, a romance starring Emily Blunt and 50 Shades Of Gray’s Jamie Dornan, which was lambasted by critics.
The film was written and directed by John Patrick Shanley and earned $100,466.
Disappointment: Among limited-release films was Wild Mountain Thyme, a romance starring Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan that was lambasted by critics and earned $100,466