The Joker has dominated this past weekend at the Australian box office, making almost half of the $21.29m box office total and helping contribute to the 82% increase weekend on weekend.
There were no other new releases in the top five but after three weeks Dora and the Lost City of Gold has cracked the top five thanks to a holiday surge.
The two films to give way were Ad Astra (three weeks, $4.99m) and Downton Abbey (Four weeks, $11.30m) with both films slipping out of the top five after three films in the top five increased their totals from the previous weekend.
The only Australian film in the top five is once again Ride Like a Girl which has almost produced an identical total to its opening weekend making only $4,000 less on three fewer screens.
#1 Joker $9.74m
The latest adaption of the DC Comics villain the Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker/Arthur Fleck in an origin story set in 1981 following a failed stand-up comedian who turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City. The film had a very successful first week averaging $17,530 on 556 screens which were both the highest numbers for those categories this past weekend.
#2 Abominable $1.72m
The DreamWorks Animation/Pearl Studio production has continued its climb up the Australian box office chart improving its position for the third week in a row after improving 45% on last weekend’s total. The film increased from 284 to 299 screens producing an average of $5,759.
#3 Ride Like a Girl $1.66m
The Aussie made hit based on Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne hasn’t slowed down in its second week declining less than 1% on its opening weekend earning $6,085 on 273 screens making a total of $5.28m.
#4 The Angry Birds Movie 2 $1.50m
Despite a slow start for the animated sequel it has continued to steadily grow its total which now sits at $7.58m after four weeks. The mobile phone game inspired film averaged $4,227 on 355 screens and improved 37% on last weekend’s total.
#5 Dora and the Lost City of Gold $1.07m
After three weeks of release, the film based on the children’s animated TV series finally cracks the top five of the Australian box office thanks to a boost from the holiday season. The film increased 27% on last weekends revenue averaging $3,559 on 301 screens bringing its total to $4.93m.