Carl Roberts 
This week – the party’s almost over for Bill And Ted, but it’s The Greatest Showman putting on a winning performance in The Official Film Chart
Welcome to this week’s official film chart!
“And I thought my jokes were bad!”. So says The Joker (Heath Ledger) in the brilliant ‘The Dark Knight‘. To this day, his performance can be held up as the quintessential live-action version of the clown prince of crime. Joaquin Phoenix’s version is different but still extremely powerful in ‘Joker‘. But Jared Leto’s portrayal of the character has been widely panned after his ‘Suicide Squad‘ version left us all cold.
ZACK SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE
However, with the Zack Snyder version of ‘Justice League‘ a little over a month away, Leto has been given the chance to change opinions. And just by looking at the photos that have been released, Leto could be on the cusp of being admitted into the most elite club in movie history. Leto’s ‘Suicide Squad‘ Joker look is gone, to be replaced with a version that combines both Ledger and Phoenix’s versions into a brilliantly chilling look.
There is still no news on when we in the U.K will get the chance to see the new four-hour version of ‘Justice League‘. But hopefully, it won’t be too long before we can see what Snyder has delivered. And to find out if Jared Leto has given us yet another brilliant performance as The Joker to atone for the travesty from 2016.
THE OFFICIAL FILM CHART
On the top ten countdowns this week, we see the same titles once again moving around and chopping and changing their positions. It is a strange week to be sure. As some of the big films that have held placings near the top of the chart have fallen quite a way down or have dropped out completely. We will have to hold on for a while longer yet as there isn’t too much in the way of new entertainment on the horizon. That being said, we have one new entry on the chart. In addition to a single re-entry and two titles that rise from the lower positions to enter the top ten once again.
DEPARTURES
As always, we must bid farewell to some titles to make way for the newcomers. And as such, this week we must bid adieu to ‘The New Mutants‘, ‘Jumanji: The Next Level‘, ‘The Doorman‘, and ‘Jojo Rabbit‘. So, what has replaced them in the listings for the past seven days? And what has beaten them all to be the U.K number one title? Clear your throat, throw on your Gladrags, put on your dancing shoes, and let’s go and find out!
THE OFFICIAL FILM CHART
For the first time in over two years, Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron have managed to perform their way to the top spot as ‘The Greatest Showman‘ becomes the new official number one title for the UK. The film has been a mainstay in the chart for quite a while now. And it seems that the film is the surprise go-to movie for the buying public. Not that it’s undeserving as the film is a delightful and re-watchable musical that brings the feel-good factor into our homes.
NEW ENTRY
The only new entry into this week’s placings hits the second spot on the chart. Managing to scare its way into the silver medal position comes ‘Saint Maud‘. The unnerving horror movie, starring Morfydd Clark as the title character of Maud, a nurse who cares for the terminally ill has been roundly applauded by critics. And has won several awards. The story of the title character and her attempts to save the soul of her dying patient from eternal damnation is a film that will certainly creep out the audience.
The one re-entry into the chart flies in to land the third-placed position. And it is a case of welcoming back Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, and the late Ian Holm as ‘The Fifth Element‘ returns once more. The film has been given a significant boost by having its digital price cut giving it the perfect chance to sell big once more. And like the new 4K edition, it is certainly worth snapping up. Forget the over the top acting. Forget the craziness that is the plot, and certainly, mute Chris Tucker when he appears. Just sit back and allow yourself to be entertained.
MONSTER MAYHEM
Dropping a single place to become this week’s number four, ahead of next month’s showdown between himself and King Kong, ‘Godzilla: King Of The Monsters‘ roars loud this week. Despite being chock full of monsters this time around, the film was slammed for not having enough human interaction. The original film was slammed for not having enough monster action! You can’t win sometimes. It took me several viewings to fully enjoy the film but now I think it is mindless but ultimately great fun. And it will keep the children entertained and quiet for two hours.
Casting its spell once again for another week and keeping it once again firmly in the fifth place on the chart. The remake of ‘The Witches’ remains stubborn in its refusal to move. The Robert Zemeckis-directed film, with Anne Hathaway in the lead role, continues to enchant children and adults alike. Although the film is good, I still prefer the 1990 version with Anjelica Huston top lining. But that shouldn’t detract from the entertainment value this new version possesses.
COMING SOON
Hitting download and keep from February 15th is the British/Irish film ‘Pixie‘. Now, this is NOT a family film or one for the kids to watch. Instead, it’s a comedy thriller that depicts the title character Pixie (Olivia Cooke) and two friends who find themselves having to go on the run in the Irish countryside after a heist they pull goes completely wrong. Ben Hardy, who some people will know as Peter Beale (2013-2015) from ‘Eastenders‘ or as Archangel from ‘X-Men: Apocolypse‘, Alec Baldwin, and Colm Meaney round out the cast. The film had a run at the British box office in October and has been acclaimed and highly reviewed. If this sounds like something you’d like to check out, why not give it a go from Monday.
WAKANDA FOREVER
Back to the chart, we return once more by welcoming back Marvel’s ‘Black Panther‘, which rises by twenty-four places to take the number six position. The Late Chadwick Boseman’s unmatchable portrayal as the title character once again shows what a talented actor we have lost. It was announced that the director of the film, Ryan Coogler has signed a five-year contract with Disney+. And he will be developing a series based on Wakanda to the service. This could be a way of showing the legend of the Black Panther before T’Challa’s time and maybe the reason why the film has shot back into the top ten.
Last week’s number one has seen its bodacious and excellent time in the top half of the chart cut short. This week ‘Bill And Ted Face The Music‘ takes a six-place tumble to end in the seventh position. The Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter threequel has still had a great time in the chart and could yet use the telephone booth to transport themselves back up the chart once more.
STILL SWINGING
‘Spider-Man: Far From Home‘ hasn’t fallen that far this week, only by a single place in fact as it lands in the eighth spot. Tom Holland’s second outing as the web-crawler continues to rise and fall throughout the top ten and it may yet crawl back up the chart.
The visual treat that is ‘Tenet‘ falls three places this week, dropping down to the ninth position. Christopher Nolan’s epic is one film that astounds, impresses, and confuses in equal measure but is ultimately thoroughly entertaining.
TROLLING THE TOP 10
And finally, we thought we had seen the last of them but no. They can’t stay away as ‘Trolls: World Tour‘ climbs a place from last week’s eleventh place to take the tenth and final spot on the chart this week.
AND DONE!
And stick a fork in it, it is done! Thanks once more for joining in the fun and seeing what we are watching and buying during this never-ending pandemic period and lockdown. Although there are several vaccines available now, I honestly can’t see our cinemas re-opening until June or July at least, meaning the films we are currently watching will need to continue to quench our entertainment thirst and delaying any big new content from becoming available for the home entertainment market until at least September. Still, we have done well so far, haven’t we?
Until next week, 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 Official Film Chart can do so via FindAnyFilm.com. All videos and information have been supplied by Find Any Film and used under authorization.
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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!
