This week on the official chart, we say goodbye to 2021, and the Christmas movies as James Bond takes the first top spot of 2022!
Welcome to The Official Film Chart. And a happy new year to you all.
NOW AVAILABLE!
To help us see in the new year on home entertainment, we have two very different movies that we can now own. One of which has already taken its spot in the first chart of 2022. But we will start with ‘Halloween Kills.’ which has been released this past Monday on download and keep. The delayed sequel to the 2018 sequel/ reboot of the franchise, the film carries on directly after the climax to that film. Once again, Jamie Lee Curtis leads the cast as Laurie Strode in a horror sequel that is full to the brim with blood, guts, and gore. As a ‘Halloween’ film fan, I completely loved it but some people may not enjoy it as much as I. You will need to have seen the 2018 film first before watching this sequel. But if you fancy a good scare or two, you’ll get a kick out of the film.
The second film is ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ which is now available to buy on all home entertainment formats. The sequel to the smash-hit original film once again stars Tom Hardy as the title character. This time, Woody Harrelson brings his character of Carnage/ Cletus Kasady to the audience and into the franchise. It is a new entry into the chart this week, more of which later.
COMING SOON!
But wait! There’s more! As we enter into 2022, we are starting to see some of the biggest hits of 2021 arrive on home entertainment. And we start with ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ which hits download and keep from Monday, January 10th. The long-awaited sequel to the pair of 1980s original films is a complete triumph. Many of the original stars make appearances throughout proceedings but the film lays the groundwork for a new breed of Ghostbusters. I found the film to be delightful, highly entertaining, and amusing. It is also the sequel we have all been waiting for. Strap on your proton packs from Monday and don’t miss what I thought was one of the films of 2021.
The week after is the digital release of the remake of ‘Dune.’ The big-budget remake of the classic Frank Herbert novel is something deserving of the term epic. The sheer scale of the film is amazing. And considering it is only the first half of the book, it will be interesting to see if the already announced second film, named ‘Dune Part 2’ can live up to the first.
THE OFFICIAL CHART
As this is the first chart of 2022, we will dispense with whether a title has moved either up or down. But suffice to say that there are no Christmas films in the top ten. All the films featuring the festive period have now departed. We do get two new entries into the chart while others have moved up into the top ten from the lower positions. But the question is, what is the all-important first number one title of the year? Let’s see what has started the new year off with a bang.
007 HOLDS ONTO POSITION 001!
We start the new year as we left the old one. With James Bond sitting on top of the pile. Holding onto the number one spot for another week, we have ‘No Time To Die’ once again. The final 007 adventure starring Daniel Craig as the suave secret agent has sold 294,000 copies across the formats this week. But that doesn’t come close to what it achieved in the final two weeks of 2021. For the final weeks of December, it racked up an incredible 1,148,000 sales across all formats, 780,000 of these in the last week of December. Not bad for a film that was delayed by almost two years thanks to the pandemic. Was the wait worth it? That is debatable. But it is a rip-roaring final outing for Daniel Craig and a highly emotional one too.
VENOM TAKES A BITE OUT OF THE CHART!
Thanks to digital downloads only, after being released on Christmas Eve, the highest new entry this week goes to ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage.’ The film also hit the disc formats this past Monday. The Sony sequel with links to the Marvel Universe once again stars Tom Hardy as the title character. With support from Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams, and Naomie Harris, the film is an enjoyable comic book romp. It does contain some scenes that are genuinely hilarious while also featuring sequences that are not suitable for children. The film can’t reach the heights of the original movie but remains a great way to lose ninety minutes or so. And it also contains a mid-credits stinger that you have to see. Why? Because it ties in with ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and its mid-credits stinger.
THE SUICIDE SQUAD BATTLES BACK!
The third place on this new year chart goes to the DC sequel ‘The Suicide Squad.’ The film was premiered on Sky Movies on Boxing Day. But that hasn’t stopped it from continuing to sell well on all formats. A violent, gory, action-packed sequel, it certainly isn’t for the squeamish or the faint-hearted. But with Margot Robbie once again taking center stage as Harley Quinn, the film is a great way to spend those cold winter nights when the kids are tucked up in bed. Writer/ director James Gunn brings his flair and style of filmmaking to the fore once again. But I did feel at times, it had more in common with Gunn’s ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ films than with the adult-oriented DC universe. But it is enjoyable just the same.
ENCANTO MAKES ITS CHART DEBUT!
Our final new entry for this week comes in the shape of Walt Disney’s animated movie ‘Encanto.’ The film features the voices of Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo, Mauro Castillo, Jessica Darrow, Angie Cepeda, Carolina Gaitán, Diane Guerrero, and Wilmer Valderrama. In the film, Mirabel Madrigal (Beatriz) is the only member of her family without a magical gift. When she learns the magic is in danger of disappearing, she sets out to find out what is happening to save both her family and her home. The film debuts in the fourth position after a brief cinematic run. It also debuted on Disney+ on Christmas Eve. The film has been a flop thanks to its shortened run but as it is Disney, is an enjoyable family film for all ages.
PAW PATROL IS HANGING ON IN THERE!
Rounding out the top five for this week is the charming animated film ‘PAW Patrol-The Movie.’ The children’s film has enchanted the little ones across the land and has bound to have been a great seller on the build-up to Christmas Day. It made a nice gift for the youngsters to receive and will keep them entertained for hours. All the while you take down the decorations and put them away for another year.
THE LAST DUEL FIGHTS ITS WAY INTO THE CHART!
As we continue our journey through the top ten, we arrive at the sixth-placed title. It is here where we find Sir Ridley Scott’s epic ‘The Last Duel.’ The film was a box office failure, despite starring Matt Damon, Adam Driver. Jodie Comer, and Ben Affleck. Ridley Scott wasn’t impressed with the film’s failure, blaming comic book movies for its misfortune. However, the film is terrific, yet another great story from a master storyteller. And deserves to be seen.
THE FRENCH DISPATCH IS DELIVERED!
Another new title makes its way into the chart this week. Coming in at this week’s number seven is Wes Anderson’s ‘The French Dispatch.’ The film features a large ensemble cast, and follows three different storylines as the French foreign bureau of the fictional Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun newspaper creates its final issue. It features an all-star cast including Benecio Del Toro, Lea Seydoux. Francis McDormand, Timothee Chalamet. Bill Murray, and Christophe Waltz amongst others. The film is an enjoyable anthology comedy that is worthy of being seen.
SPIDER-MAN SWINGS IN AGAIN!
You knew it was going to happen, didn’t you? With his new movie ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ doing big business at the box office, it was a given one of his films would appear in the top ten. And so it goes as ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ swings by once again, webbing itself into an eighth-place finish. Tom Holland’s second solo outing as our friendly neighborhood web-head remains a highly enjoyable affair. Audiences have lapped it up again to refresh their memories before venturing out to see the new movie.
HARRY POTTER CONJURES HIMSELF INTO THE CHART!
In the ninth position, we find the ‘Harry Potter: The Complete Collection’ boxset. The set was the biggest selling boxset of 2021 and continues to be a massive success. The first film recently celebrated its 20th anniversary so fans around the country have continued to snap up the whole film saga.
PETER RABBIT 2 HOPS IN!
And finally, after debuting on Sky Movies on Christmas Day, ‘Peter Rabbit 2’ decides to hop back into the chart. The CGI/Live-action sequel returns once more, this time in the tenth and final position in this first chart of 2022.
SIGNING OFF!
Well, that’s it for the first chart of 2022. We’ve seen some new titles emerge inside the top ten. And we’ve seen some of 2021s biggest hits hold tight inside the placings. Thank you for joining in the fun of this first chart of the new year. And, as always…
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.
Author
Carl Roberts is the News Editor of 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!
