Carl Roberts 
This week on the Official Film Chart – Spider-Man keeps swinging, and The Greatest Showman is singing proudly. But nothing can stop Sing from claiming the No.1 spot!
Hello and welcome once more to the official film chart.
So, what’s been happening this week? The big news is the release of the brand new trailer for Zack Snyder’s Justice League which hits HBO MAX in the United States on March 18th. Of course, we in the U.K still have no idea if or when it will be available here. Or in what format. Will we get it on PVOD? Will it go straight to the home entertainment formats to buy? Or will it make its debut on Sky Atlantic? The place where most HBO content is screened here in the U.K? Or will it be held back for an eventual cinema release?
UNITE THE LEAGUE
The lack of information is annoying, to say the least. Once more, it appears that we, like the rest of the world, don’t seem to matter that much when it comes to releases of this kind. Zack Snyder has tried to placate the countries where HBO MAX is not available (i.e around 99.99% of the world). And has guaranteed that we will get to see it. It is not his fault we are still in the dark regarding the film. But we need to know what is going on with regards to its release.
GODZILLA VS KONG
The same goes for the upcoming cinema release of ‘Godzilla Vs Kong‘ which is due to be released here next month. In the States, it will be opened simultaneously at the cinema and on HBO MAX. Here, the cinemas are firmly closed and won’t be open until May or June at the earliest. So where does that leave us with regards to the film? And all the other ones that are due for release? Again, no answers are forthcoming. It isn’t good enough.
With regards to the top ten home entertainment titles. Yet again. it’s a case of shifting about, seeing some titles vanish as some old favorites decide to rejoin us. That is, of course until they too vanish again for another day, and little in the way of new titles to contend with. This week, we see a new entry and three re-entries. As such, we bid goodbye to ‘Saint Maud‘, ‘The Fifth Element‘, ‘Black Panther‘ and ‘Bill And Ted Face The Music‘. But what is that all-important official UK number one title? The answer is going to shock you.
THE OFFICIAL FILM CHART
Released back in 2016, our new number one has never hit the number one spot before. In fact, it hasn’t even graced the top ten chart before. But it has now. Coming into the chart as the only new entry of the week and hitting the top of the tree. The official UK number one title is the animated film ‘Sing‘. Starring the vocal talents of Matthew McConaughey, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Saunders, and Reese Witherspoon amongst others, the film has managed to grab the home audience in a big way. Not bad for a film that is five years old.
After spending the past few weeks holding on firmly to fifth place in the chart. This week Anne Hathaway and the remake of ‘The Witches‘ uses its magic, flying up the chart in three places to grab the second position on the chart. The film hit PVOD back at the tail end of last year and has seen a great deal of success. The past week has seen the film gain a price cut on the digital download format. And it has taken full advantage of that fact, leading it to see a nice jump in sales.
PUTTING ON A SHOW
Last week’s number one title becomes this week’s third as Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, and ‘The Greatest Showman‘ take a tumble down the listings. The film has been selling like hotcakes once more during the lockdown and has also benefitted from a digital price cut. Thus giving the public the chance to finally grab it for their collections. It has become a perennial favorite in homes across the country and looks certain to continue its success for a while yet.
Our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is never one to be down and out for too long. And this week he has proved it once again. Using his Spider-Sense, his webbing, and his simple likability as ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home‘ has crawled up the chart and spins himself into this week’s fourth-place. The Tom Holland sequel may have benefitted from a price cut too. But also, it may be because of the news stories, set photos, rumors, and the like that seem to be leaking from the set of the third film which is currently in front of the cameras.
THE MINIONS RETURN
Rounding out this week’s top five positions. We say ‘Bello!’ to those lovable yellow Minions as ‘Despicable Me 3‘ returns to the chart by rising six places from the eleventh position. I love the Minions, they make me cry with laughter, and even though they are not the main characters in this third entry in the franchise, I own every ‘Despicable Me‘ film just for them. It seems that families across the country agree with me and can’t get enough of the antics of Gru and his yellow helpers.
OUTSIDE THE CHART
Two titles of note currently sit outside the top ten but both are the stark contrast to the other. Currently holding the eleventh position is the psychological horror film ‘Possessor‘. The plot follows the character of Tasya Vos (Andrea Riseborough), an assassin who takes control of other people’s bodies to carry out her killings. She accomplishes this by using an implant in the host’s body. Using a machine to insert her consciousness into their minds before forcing them to commit suicide once the hit is done, returning Vos’ consciousness to her.
However, Vos is suffering from a separation of her own identity due to the amount of time she spends imitating other people. This causes her to be unable to separate her work from her domestic life with her husband and son. The film has been critically acclaimed and the writer/director of the film, Brandon Cronenberg, son of the legendary director David Cronenberg has been singled out for praise.
CATS & DOGS RISE AGAIN
Sitting patiently in the sixteenth position, the animal caper ‘Cats & Dogs: Paws Unite‘ is the third film in the franchise. But is the first to be released directly to the home entertainment market. The film is a sequel to the 2010 second film ‘Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore‘ but has been roundly slammed by the critics with the CGI coming in for derision. However, it is a good family film and one to keep the youngsters entertained and is harmless enough.
Photo Credit: Ryan Plummer/2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
COMING SOON
Hitting download and keep from February 22nd, the British horror film ‘The Owners‘ becomes available. Starring Maisie Williams and former Dr. Who Sylvester McCoy, the film tells the story of a group of youngsters. The latter decides to rob the home of Dr. Richard Huggins and his wife, Ellen, and what they think is a safe full of cash inside their home. But things don’t go the way they planned (do they ever?). And soon the four find themselves questioning their motives as the couple turns the tables on the foursome.
The film shows how talented Maisie Williams is as an actress away from her ‘Game Of Thrones‘ role but the main credit has to go to McCoy. Everyone remembers him as Dr. Who and for being a kindly gentleman. Well, get ready for a shock! Here, he shows a new side of his acting chops and makes for a rather believable and chilling individual. The film is worthy of a late-night watch and is highly entertaining.
INVERSION THERAPY
We return once more to the Official Film Chart of the week. And we discover that the time-bending, visually stunning, and highly enjoyable ‘Tenet‘ has managed to reverse its course and rise again. This week by three places to land the sixth spot on the top ten.
Proving once again that no matter how hard you try, you just can’t keep Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan away from the top ten placings. This week ‘Jumanji: The Next Level‘ makes its re-entry into the top ten again, this time rising from the twelfth position to become this week’s seventh highest-selling title.
Those pesky creatures returned to the chart last week in the tenth spot and this week ‘Trolls: World Tour‘ climbs two places to become the new number eight title.
RACE DAY
It has changed its tires, refueled, had a great pit stop outside the top ten, and has decided to re-enter the chart race once more. ‘Le Mans’66‘ races up four places to become the ninth-placed finisher for this week.
And finally, ahead of his aforementioned smackdown with King Kong. ‘Godzilla: King Of The Monsters‘ has taken a smack in the mouth from the buying public, knocking him down by six places to hang over the chart exit door in this week’s chart.
AND DONE!
Time to wrap our exploration of the Official Film Chart for another week. My thanks to you all for joining in the merry mayhem once more. And with that, until next week. Whatever you decide, whatever you buy, be kind, look after each other, be safe 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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