Carl Roberts 
This week – the Great British public beat the coronavirus blues with some sensational movies. Sonic The Hedgehog zooms into action, Frozen 2 slips on the ice, and Jumanji gets an extra life!
Dead or alive, you’re coming with me! Welcome once again to the official chart rundown of what is hitting the heights and those that are sinking to the depths as we embrace the continued lockdown and continue to rent, buy and download to keep us entertained. This week sees two new entries and two re-entries into the chart and as such, we must bid farewell to another four titles to make way for them. And so it is that we wave a cheery goodbye to ‘Downton Abbey‘, ‘Rocketman‘, ‘Joker‘ and after a single week in the chart the ‘Frozen/ Frozen II‘ boxset. However, a title has done the unthinkable and managed to grab the top spot for itself, dethroning ‘Frozen II‘ in the process. What title could it be? Let’s all find out together.
Rising up one place and taking the top spot comes the third in the franchise as ‘Jumanji: The Next Level‘ takes over from ‘Frozen II‘. The Dwayne Johnson-led reboot of the franchise continues to sell well and repeat its cinematic success. Ably supported by Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan, the film has been so much of a hit that plans are already in place to continue the franchise with a fourth film and a third in this new series. We will be seeing more of the gaming world over the next few years.
As ‘Jumanji‘ rises to the top, so ‘Frozen II‘ drops a single place to end the week in the second position. Finally deciding to let it go, the film has been a runaway success at the box office and has repeated its feat on home entertainment. The animated Disney sequel is one of the year’s highest-selling titles and, as it has only fallen a single place, will continue to hold a place in the top ten for quite a while yet.
Our first new entry comes into the chart in the third position as ‘Sonic The Hedgehog‘ speeds its way into contention, based on downloads alone. The film, the big-screen debut for the Sega video game character and franchise features Ben Schwartz as the speeding title character alongside James Marsden as his new friend Tom and the comedic legend Jm Carrey as the villainous Dr. Robotnik in a family-friendly box office hit. The film will hit disc shortly and will be in the chart for a while yet as families settle down together and spend time while forced to stay indoors.
Dropping a place as it decides to investigate this week’s fourth-placed position comes Rian Johnson and his brilliant murder-mystery film ‘Knives Out‘. Starring Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson and Christopher Plummer amongst others, the film is a deserving and enjoyable evening entertainment, one which will be repeated soon as the film has been granted a sequel and will once again star Craig as Benoit Blanc.
Rounding out the top five and rising once more, this week by a further five places from last week’s number ten, we discover ‘Trolls‘. The film leapt a massive twenty-two places to return to the chart last week ahead of the release on all streaming services of the sequel ‘Trolls: World Tour‘ which became available this past Monday on a one-off rental basis that has emerged since the cinemas were forced to close. It appears families have been catching up with the first film before they rent the new sequel. We should see the second film hit the chart next week.
Falling two places as we start our look at the bottom half of the chart, we find Vin Diesel and ‘Bloodshot‘, another film that had just opened at the box offices worldwide before the enforced lockdown forced it to be made available on streaming services on a one-time rental title. The film, based on the Valient comic book of the same name was supposed to be the first in a four-film arc that would incorporate other characters from the comics. It remains to be seen if the franchise will continue after this year’s epidemic damaged the film’s earning power but the threads are there for it to continue despite the critical mauling the film suffered.
Losing its braking power as it slips another two places to park itself at this week’s seventh-placed position is ‘Le Mans ’66‘, the true-life dramatization of the events of the battle for domination in the auto racing world between the rivalling companies. The film is a worthwhile watch during these troubled times.
Rising four places to re-enter the chart from last week’s number twelve to swing its way into the eighth position this week, we welcome back our friendly neighbourhood web-crawler as ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home‘, fresh from its debut on Sky Movies webs his way back into our hearts and back into our homes. Ahead of the release of ‘Venom II‘ and a heavily rumoured cameo appearance by Tom Holland as Spider-Man during proceedings and ahead of his third solo effort entering production once the current situation ends, we can’t get enough of the superhero to keep us going and entertained.
Our final new entry hits the chart this week down in the ninth-placed position as we welcome Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx in the big-screen adaptation depicting the true-life courtroom drama that is ‘Just Mercy‘. The film tells the story of one of the most highly debated miscarriages of justice in American justice history. The film is a worthy and highly moving one which will alarm and bring hope to all those who watch it. And is a great look into the workings of the American judicial system and the events that almost cost a man his life.
Taking the final spot in this week’s chart and rising a single place from last week’s number eleven to re-enter the chart again, Elizabeth Banks’ sadly underwhelming and underperforming reboot of the classic 1970s television show and the two Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu movies that are ‘Charlie’s Angels‘. Kristen Stewart leads the line this time with support from Sir Patrick Stewart and a mid-credits cameo from original star Jaclyn Smith in a reboot that didn’t set the box office alight. It is a shame for writer/director/co-star Elizabeth Banks as she deserves so much better luck than she received for this ill-judged failure.
Hitting download and keep this past Monday ahead of its disc release this coming Monday, we can witness the end of a journey that started 43 years ago as ‘Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker‘ is released, bringing down the curtain on the ‘Skywalker’ saga. The film divided the fanbase once more but still managed to once again bring in the box office success the franchise is known for.
Making its bow on onto download and keep from Monday 20th April, the whole family can gather together and enjoy the animated exploits of Will Smith and Tom Holland as ‘Spies In Disguise‘ launches itself onto home entertainment. The film was a slight success at the box office but didn’t really hit the heights it was expected to. However, it is an ideal family adventure to sit down and watch together and to pass the time away for a few hours and does have good rewatch ability to keep the young ones entertained.
So, what do you think will make the grade next week? Will ‘Jumanji: The Next Level‘ remain at the top of the pile? Will ‘Frozen II‘ decide it has let it go enough and return to the summit? Will ‘Sonic The Hedgehog‘ engage his speed and race into the pole position? Or will the Jedi once again light up the galaxy as ‘Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker‘ emerges from lightspeed and lands in the first position?
Whatever you decide, whatever you buy, stay safe, look after one another and happy viewing!
Anyone wishing to buy any of the titles featured in the chart can do so via FindAnyFilm.com
The Future of the Force. The future of pop culture writing.
Carl Roberts is a Senior Staff Writer and Books and Literature Correspondent for Future of the Force. Aside from being our horror genre aficionado, he is also passionate about Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and the Indiana Jones movies. Follow him on Twitter @CarlRoberts2 where he uses the force frequently!
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Editor’s Note: All videos and information have been supplied by Find Any Film and used under authorisation.
Carl Roberts is the News Editor for The Future of the Force. Aside from being our horror genre aficionado, he is also passionate about Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and the Indiana Jones movies. Follow him on Twitter where he uses the force frequently!
