Carl Roberts 
This week on the Official Chart, Michael Myers stalks back in once more, and Dune emerges from space but nothing can defeat Ghostbusters: Afterlife!
Welcome to The Official Film Chart.
THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS HITS PVOD ON MONDAY!
It only opened in cinemas towards the end of December. But thanks to some poor box office returns, ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ will be hitting PVOD this coming Monday. The fourth film in the twenty-three-year-old franchise wasn’t the big box office smash everyone predicted it to be. In fact, it could be labeled as quite a flop. However, thanks to some good box office returns around the world, it didn’t do too badly. But it is almost certainly the death knell for the franchise now. Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss returned, despite being killed off in the third film ‘The Matrix Revolutions.’ How they returned was actually quite believable and the story of the film could have been used to keep the franchise going for a while longer. If you fancy watching it in your own home, you can rent it from Monday.
THE OFFICIAL CHART
Once again, the chart sees a significant change. We have one new entry and three re-entries into this week’s listings. As such, we must bid goodbye to ‘The Addams Family 2’, ‘PAW Patrol-The Movie’, ‘Casino Royale.’, and ‘The Suicide Squad.’ But what is that all-important chart-topper this week? Have the superstars of the supernatural managed to haunt the top of the chart? Has 007 managed to rally to shoot his way back to the top? Or has something else entirely managed to secure the number one position? Let’s go and find out!
GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE STILL SPOOKS THE TOP!
For the second week in a row, the number one title is ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife.’ The film has fought off its competition based once more on digital downloads alone. And what is interesting is the film hits the disc formats from this coming Monday. The second film this week also gets a physical release next Monday. So it will be a straight-up fight for the top spot over the next few weeks between them. The film is one of the best that emerged at the cinema last year. It continues the tradition of the previous two films while moving the franchise forward for a new generation. And is a terrific family film for sitting down together with and having some fun.
DUNE LANDS AT NUMBER TWO!
Our one and only new entry this week lands in the second position. And it is welcome to Denis Villeneuve and his incredible remake of ‘Dune.’ The new big-screen version of the Frank Herbert novel is worthy of the term epic. It is so grand in scale that it is a throwback to the classic movies like ‘Lawrence Of Arabia’ and ‘Sparticus.’ The film only covers the first half of the book but ends at the perfect place ahead of the second and final part of the first novel. Timothee Chalamet is perfectly cast as the young Paul Atreides and has great support from the rest of the cast. I did have a few issues with certain aspects of the film that I felt were rushed but in total, I enjoyed it. It is a spectacle in every sense of the word. And I highly recommend it.
007 HAS LOST A STEP!
The former number one, the James Bond film ‘No Time To Die’ loses a step this week as it falls a place to number three. The final film to star Daniel Craig as the secret agent has been riding high in the chart ever since it hit digital download in the middle of December. It has seen some incredible sales ever since and was the biggest home entertainment release of 2021. Not bad for a film that saw so many delays from its original 2019 release date. The film is a good Bond film that fans will lap up and enjoy. But without giving away any spoilers, the end to the film is a surprising and controversial one. And Rami Malek’s villain of the piece is a weak one. However, there are enough of the classic elements in the film to appease the audience.
MICHAEL MYERS STALKS BACK INTO THE CHART AGAIN!
Oh, Michael Myers! How I love you! Anyone who knows me is aware of my love of the ‘Halloween’ franchise. And this week the sequel ‘Halloween Kills’ returns to the chart, thanks to becoming available on the disc formats. It re-enters the chart in the fourth position. Now, I own TWO copies of the film on digital and I own the Blu-Ray too. Jamie Lee Curtis once again appears as Laurie Strode but this time, she is more of a supporting character. This is thanks to the stab wound she suffered at the climax of 2018s ‘Halloween.’ But the film is extremely violent, nasty, and blood-filled regardless. And is once again genuinely scary. It most certainly isn’t for the squeamish. But I loved every minute of it.
WE HAVE FALLEN!
Dropping two places to land in the fifth place this week is ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage.’ The comic book sequel has been a great hit ever since its digital debut on Christmas Eve. Tom Hardy once more plays Eddie Brock/ Venom with great support from Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady/ Carnage. I did have some problems with the film, which you will understand when you see it. But it is an enjoyable sequel nonetheless. And of course, as it links to the MCU, keep watching the end credits for the stinger.
ENCANTO DROPS A PLACE!
We begin our tour at the bottom five places with ‘Encanto’, which drops a place to sixth. The film made history last week on the official singles chart as the song ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ from the film was the number one single in the UK. The film seems to have found its niche on home entertainment as well as Disney+.
ETERNALS TAKES A TUMBLE!
The MCU film ‘Eternals’ takes a tumble this week as it slips three places to number seven on the chart. The film is available to buy on digital as well as being free to all Disney+ subscribers. With a cast that includes Angelina Jolie, Selma Hayek. Richard Madden, and Kit Harrington, the film has weight behind it. It is an enjoyable film for all the family. But it most certainly isn’t the masterpiece some people are claiming it to be.
THE BOSS BABY IS NOT SO BOSSY THIS WEEK!
Dreamworks Animation sequel ‘The Boss Baby 2’ finds its milk bottle dry, and its rattle broken this week. The film has fallen two places to land in the eighth place. However, the film only hit the disc formats this past Monday so has the tools to bounce back next week.
NOBODY RETURNS!
Rising by twenty places to return to the chart once more is the action film ‘Nobody.’ The Bob Odenkirk film was a surprise when it opened in cinemas. No one expected Odenkirk to be an action hero. But he pulls it off with ease. The film has recently debuted on Sky Movies Premiere but deserves to be bought and owned. It really is that enjoyable! It returns to the chart in ninth place.
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA VISITS AT NUMBER TEN!
And finally, thanks to ‘Hotel Transylvania: Hotel Transformia’ skipping cinemas and premiering on Prime Video instead, ‘Hotel Transylvania 3’ enters the chart. The film has risen an incredible twenty-five places to take the tenth and final spot on this week’s chart.
FINISHING OFF!
And that is that for yet another week. And for the first month of 2022. Flown by, hasn’t it? Next month, we MAY get to see ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ hitting home entertainment. This has yet to be confirmed though so I wouldn’t get your hopes up. But it would be amazing if we could buy and own it before March hits us. Then we would see a REAL chart battle on our hands for domination at the top. But until next week, 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.
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!
