Carl Roberts 
This week – DC’s greatest supervillains return as Joker and the Birds Of Prey terrorize the chart – but nothing can stop the march of the Trolls!
‘I’m Vengeance!’. Did you expect anything else to open this week? This past weekend saw what has got to go down as one of the greatest events held exclusively online with DC FanDome. And what an event it was. The highlight has to be the first showing of the trailer for ‘The Batman‘. It was incredible and gave everyone a look at what they can expect from Robert Pattinson in the main role and showed the haters that they were completely wrong with regards to his casting as the caped crusader. The trailers for ‘Wonder Woman 1984‘ and ‘Justice League: The Snyder Cut‘ came close to being on par with it but ‘The Batman‘ beat them all out. It was also a good chance to see what was coming shortly from DC and what we can look forward to on home entertainment in 2021. ‘Wonder Woman 1984‘ will be available by the Spring, ‘Justice League: The Snyder Cut‘ by Autumn, and the various seasons of the popular TV shows will become available during next year.
As for what we can buy, rent and download right now though and we find that this week, there are no new entries at all in the chart. This week is dominated by re-entries of old favorites and the other titles moving up and down the placings. Four titles decide to return to the top ten and so it is regret that we must say goodbye to ‘Flash Gordon‘, ‘Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi‘, ‘Le Mans ’66‘ and ‘Spies In Disguise‘ as they drop out to make way for our returnees. But for the sixth week in succession, our number one title holds firm at the top of the chart. As for the rest, let’s see how they all got on.
Its the summer holidays and the kids are off school for six weeks (more like until 2021 if the truth is known) and as such, for the sixth week running, ‘Trolls: World Tour‘ holds itself large, in charge and proud at the top of the chart. To be totally fair, the film has been at the top before the kids broke up for the summer holidays and continue its attempt at chart domination in this rather strange year both cinematically and on the home entertainment front. The film has amassed quite the audience ever since it hit PVOD and has held itself together to take charge of the download market as well as on the disc format. With its cinematic run tailing off now and its departure from screens now that some of the delayed big-budget movies are starting to hit the multiplexes and take their screen time, the film has a clear shot at the remaining top of the chart tree for a while longer.
Rising like a bullet by three places and once again taking the second position which it has occupied several times ever since it was released for the home market, we find the Sam Mendes masterpiece of cinema in ‘1917‘. Criminally overlooked for some of the big awards this year at the major ceremonies, the film is and continues to be an engaging, thought-provoking piece of cinema history. The battle scenes themselves are incredible but it is the human drama that makes us sit up and take notice. The film is one that dads and grandfathers will lap and enjoy and they have been in their thousands ever since the film became available to buy and keep.
He has had a rest, recharged his batteries, had a leg rub down, and has pulled his socks up as ‘Sonic The Hedgehog‘ gets a massive burst of speed and runs back up the chart by four places to take the bronze medal this week. The big-screen debut of the lovable Sega Videogame character continues to stay in the top ten and to keep children of all ages entertained and laughing. With Jim Carrey involved, the film was always going to bring tears of laughter to the masses and so it has proved. With the announcement that a second feature film starring the spiky hero is due to hit screens in 2022, it looks likely that the family will be laughing even more at his antics shortly.
Last week, they had just started talking to him again. This week, they are having full-blown conversations as ‘Dolittle‘ sets out on his adventures once more and rises five places up the chart to occupy the fourth place this week. The Robert Downey Jr starring family film has proven all the critics wrong as it has made its mark and its money on home entertainment. Although critically mauled back in January and somewhat ignored at the box office, the film has managed to make itself quite the success. Whether there will be a sequel, however, is seriously doubtful. The filmmakers may have just about gotten away with it this time around but next time, they probably wouldn’t be so lucky.
Although lockdown continues to bite in some areas, it hasn’t stopped the viewing public from traveling back to Yorkshire and dropping in on the family as ‘Downton Abbey: The Movie‘ leaps up the charts by ten places, rising from last week’s fifteenth position to become this weeks number five and round out the top half of the chart. The film made a great impression on the cinematic box offices around the world and repeated its feat on the home formats. The film has been absent from the top ten for a while, however. That is until ITV decided to screen the series once again on Sunday evenings at 8pm, possibly leading to a renewed interest in the film. But no matter how you look at it, the film is one of the year’s biggest sellers on digital and disc.
We start our tour of the bottom half of the chart by welcoming back the first of the DC movies to return to the top ten this week. And once again putting a smile on his face while scaring the pants off the rest of us, rising back up the chart by six placings, we find Joaquin Phoenix in his Oscar-winning role in ‘Joker‘. This is the third time (I think) that the film has returned to the top ten. It may have something to do with DC FanDome at the weekend and the dropping of most of the DC content on Amazon Prime in price to coincide with the event. Either way, it is another triumph for the film and one it richly deserves.
Ok, I admit it, it is my favorite film of the year. Returning to number seven and rising back up the chart by seven places from last week’s number fourteen, we get the second and final DC title that re-enters the chart this week. And I’m happy to welcome back Margot Robbie in what has to be her signature role now as ‘Birds Of Prey: And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn‘ gets a boost after DC Fandome. Again, the films price on Amazon Prime dropped and gave the film a chance to sell well on the digital format once more but it was also the reveal at Fandome of behind the scenes footage at next years ‘The Suicide Squad‘ in which Ms. Robbie returns to play Quinn for the third time that gave the film a helping hand. I LOVE the film and I admit, it is fast becoming one of my guilty pleasure movies to put on late at night and watch before bed.
Hitting the pause button once again and holding firm in the eighth place, we find Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, and Kevin Hart hanging out as ‘Jumanji: The Next Level‘ continues its winning run inside the top ten. The film has dropped out of the chart several times only to return a week or two later. Like ‘Downton Abbey‘ and ‘1917‘ the film is likely to feature heavily in the best selling charts of 2020.
It seems that the love affair with those Lightfoot brothers is coming to an end once more as ‘Onward‘ plummets down the chart this week, falling six places to land itself in the ninth position. The film is another that benefited from a PVOD release and a belated cinema run and has entertained families up and down the country.
And finally, returning to the chart AGAIN by rising a single place to take the tenth and final spot on the chart this week, Elsa, Olaf, and the rest slide back into the top ten as ‘Frozen II‘ completes our look at the biggest sellers of the past seven days.
Hitting DVD from Monday, August 21st, the musical comedy-drama ‘The High Note‘ becomes available. The film, starring Dakota Johnson and Tracee Ellis Ross was due to make its cinematic debut on May 8th of this year but due to the pandemic, it had no choice but to accept a limited cinema run in places that actually had the screens open, Drive-in theatres and on PVOD. The film gained a mixed reception from critics but they praised the cast. The film follows Maggie (Johnson), the longtime personal assistant to the legendary R&B star Grace Davis (Ellis Ross). Davis still has a rather successful touring career despite not releasing any new or significant material in over ten years and is constantly being urged by her manager to accept a residency in Las Vegas. Maggie meanwhile wants to become a successful music producer, something she aspires to. Along the way, the pair will have highs and lows before the film reaches its emotional climax. If that sounds like it could be something for you, then why not check it out from this coming Monday.
And that’s it. The chart has been put to bed for yet another week. My thanks again for joining me for the weekly look at what’s keeping us entertained. All that remains is…What do YOU think will make the grade in next week’s chart? Drop us a line and see if you’re right.
Until then, whatever you decide, whatever you buy, stay safe, be kind, look after each other, 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!
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Editor’s Note | All videos and information have been supplied by Find Any Film and used under authorization.
Future of the Force News Editor,Liverpool F.C fan,Halloween Movie Fan, Friday The 13th movies fan, Star Wars Fan, Star Trek Fan.
