Carl Roberts 
This week on The Official Chart, Clifford slips his leash, and Neo is resurrected but no one can stop Spider-Man from webbing into the top spot!
Welcome to The Official Film Chart.
SCREAM (2022) IS OUT TO BUY NEXT WEDNESDAY!
“Hello, Sidney! Do you like scary movies?” It is hard to believe that those words were first spoken in 1996’s ‘Scream.’ And it makes me feel old to realize I was there on the opening weekend, twenty-six years ago! However, good slashers may vanish but they never go out of style. This year saw the release of a fifth film in the long-running franchise. The new film, again simply titled ‘Scream’ opened to great reviews and great box office back in January. Rather than be a reboot, it is described as a relaunch of the film series. And it is also a direct sequel to everything that has gone before it. Once again, Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Courtney Cox reprise their roles from the original four films. Newcomers include Jack Quaid, Mellisa Barrera, and Jenna Ortega. The film will be hitting home entertainment next Wednesday, the 30th of March. It hits the physical formats on April 11th. And is one for all fans of the franchise or simply those who want a good scare. It is a great horror movie and one to be enjoyed.
THE OFFICIAL CHART
It has been a titanic battle this week between two big hitters from the Hollywood studios. Finally, we have seen a shifting of the old guard as they have decimated the chart placings. We knew it would happen. And it has. To make way, we bid farewell to ‘House Of Gucci’, and ‘The Suicide Squad’. But which one of our two massive releases has managed to hit the top? Is the number one covered in webbing? Do we instead see computer code running at the summit? Or has the impossible happened and neither has taken the top spot? It is time for us to take a breath and to find out.
SPIDER-MAN DECIMATES THE CHARTS!
You didn’t actually think it wouldn’t hit the top, did you? As expected and predicted, the new number one title is the smash-hit ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’ Peter Parker and his webbed alter-ego have destroyed the rest of the chart this week. It has hit the chart based on digital downloads only. And it was bound to happen. The third and best of Tom Holland’s solo outings as our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man blew the box offices apart when it opened back in December. And I have to admit that I loved every second of it. For those who have yet to see it, I won’t spoil the surprises for you. For those of you who have seen it, you know what I mean. It is two and a half hours of top-quality entertainment of the highest order. And I’ve watched it four more times since I bought it on digital.
THE MATRIX IS RESURRECTED!
The second and final new entry this week doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Finding itself resurrected and into the chart, we have ‘The Matrix Resurrections.’ Keanu Reeves once again returns as Thomas Anderson/ Neo in a film that will divide the audience. It is entertaining. It is worthy of a watch. But fans of the franchise will find the film to be extremely lacking. The premise is fairly good, and the film does contain some exciting sequences. But on the whole, the film feels empty. And it relies far too much on flashbacks to the characters from the originals that are recast here. I can’t say too much otherwise it will spoil the film. But those looking for kung-fu sequences and action set pieces on a par with the original will be sorely disappointed.
CLIFFORD SLIP HIS LEASH!
Last week’s number one sees itself fall to this week’s third place. After the massive two new entries, ‘Clifford The Big Red Dog’ has slipped its leash and run away. When Emily discovers her little red puppy named Clifford has grown ten feet overnight, she turns to her eccentric Uncle Casey for help. But when a mad scientist tries to capture the larger-than-life playful pup, it takes the entire neighborhood to hide Clifford as they race across the city. The film is an incredible, laugh-out-loud comedy adventure that is great fun for the whole family.
DUNE REFUSES TO SHIFT!
The winds are not blowing this week. And as such, ‘Dune’ doesn’t see itself blown out of fourth place on the chart. The multi-BAFTA winning and heavily Oscar-nominated film manages to hold firm. The sequel to the film, titled ‘Dune-Part Two’ is already almost ready to begin filming. The casting is now in place, the script is virtually complete and will be in cinemas in the latter part of next year. It will be interesting to see what awards the film picks up at this year’s Academy Awards on Sunday. I’m expecting it to sweep the technical awards in a big way.
007 HOLDS ONTO POSITION 005!
James Bond 007 just doesn’t know when to quit. After sixty years on the big screen, he remains a favorite across the world. And none more so than here in the UK. As such, his latest adventure ‘No Time To Die’ refuses to be beaten out of fifth place, where it remains for another week. Daniel Craig’s farewell to the tuxedo and gadgets remains one of the most purchased films in the country. It has a few nominations at this weekend’s Oscars. And I predict that Billie Eilish will walk away with the statue for Best Original Song.
WEST SIDE STORY ON THE SLIDE!
We begin our look at the bottom five places this week with a faller of four places. The Steven Spielberg-directed remake of ‘West Side Story’ has seen a large reversal in its fortunes. Although critically acclaimed and loved by those who saw it, the film has been a flop. It is also now available to stream on Disney+ which hasn’t helped its cause. It now sings and dances from the sixth position.
ENCANTO IS ON ITS WAY DOWN!
Another film that suffers a four-place fall this week is the Disney animated movie ‘Encanto.’ The film has been a roaring success on the home entertainment front. Which makes up for its failure at the box office. To be fair to the film, it didn’t get much of an exclusive run in cinemas before it hit Disney+. But it remains a favorite for families across the country, despite its fall this week to seventh place.
THE KING’S MAN IS ALMOST VANQUISHED!
The prequel ‘The King’s Man’ looks like it is about to be vanquished from the top ten. The film, starring Ralph Fiennes suffers another drop this week. It slips two places to end the week in eighth place. But it has been a success on home entertainment, despite it not being as good as the previous two entries in the action-comedy franchise.
THE GHOSTBUSTERS COULD BE ABOUT TO ENTER THE AFTER (TOP TEN) LIFE!
One of my favorite films of last year, ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ could be about to vanish into the supernatural ether outside the top ten. The film, a terrific comedy, and threequel drops two places to manifest itself into ninth place.
WE ARE STILL HERE!
While ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ reigns supreme at the top of the chart, one of his enemies refuses to move from the tenth and final place this week. Tom Hardy and ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ have dug their claws in and hold firm above the chart exit door.
FINISHING OFF!
Time flies when you’re having fun. And our time for this week is up. My thanks for joining in the trip through the chart placings. Will we see ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ repeat its performance next week? Will ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ manage to beat off the arachnid? Will You be buying the new ‘Scream’ film? Those decisions, I shall leave up to you, the buying public. But in the meantime…
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!
