Carl Roberts 
This week on the Official Chart, we get to Scream again, and King Richard arrives, but there is no stopping Spider-Man at the top of the charts!
Welcome to The Official Film Chart.
APRIL’S HOME ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS!
We are now into April. And as such, several big titles are on their way for us to download or buy on physical formats. Titles such as the Oscar-Winning ‘Belfast’, which hits download & keep from Monday of next week. ‘Sing 2’ which hits on Friday, April 15th. ‘Uncharted’, which debuts on April 26th on download & keep. And ‘Moonfall’ which drops a day earlier on April 25th. Following on from what we have been given last month, the choice of viewing is gaining momentum again after the past two years, thanks to lockdown and COVID.
THE OFFICIAL CHART
As for this week’s chart, it is a case of placing your bets as to what is in or out of the placings. Two titles we can discount from leaving us already so that leaves eight spaces left to fill. We do see some new titles on the chart this week. So, it is with a heavy heart that we bid goodbye to ‘ Nightmare Alley’, ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’, and ‘The King’s Man’. But what is occupying the top spot? Is it covered in Spider’s webs for the third week? Has the top spot been hacked? Or has something entered that has scared them all off as it hits the top spot? Gear up as we head out to find out.
SPIDER-MAN STICKS FAST!
What? You didn’t HONESTLY expect there to be a change at the top, did you? Of course not. Webbing itself firmly into the top spot for the third week in a row is ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’ The film is the proverbial juggernaut. It has taken and held the top spot based on digital downloads alone. But that’s not all. The film was released on disc formats this past Monday. We can honestly say that the film will be holding the top spot and has a comfortable lead going into the Easter break. And so it should. The film is a fan-pleasing comic book movie for the ages. Even non-fans will get a huge kick out of the film. Quite simply, it is possibly the best Marvel film to come out of the Sony MCU. Running for almost two and a half hours, the film is the perfect way for a family to spend time together during the Easter break or any weekend.
IT IS TIME TO SCREAM AGAIN!
Our only new entry this week arrives in the second position. Based on digital sales alone, we welcome ‘Scream’ into the top ten. The film is the fifth in the long-running horror franchise. And once again stars Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette. Also starring are Jenna Ortega and Jack Quaid. The film is a kind of reboot/ semi-sequel to the first four films. But is a marked improvement over the fourth film. Twenty-Five Years after the events from the first film, a new killer has donned the mask of Ghostface. This new killer(s) is attempting to resurrect secrets from the town of Woodsboro’s deadly past. The film is a terrific chiller and one for those nights cuddled up on the sofa.
THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS GETS A BUG IN THE SYSTEM!
Thanks to the arrival of Ghostface into the chart, ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ falls a place to become the third-place title. Despite its title, I can’t see the film resurrecting the franchise for the future. Anyone hoping for a return to form for the franchise is in for a major disappointment. The film does contain some really good parts to it. But on the whole, it is a letdown. You can see what they were trying to do with this new addition to the franchise. But to my mind, it didn’t work at all. In fact, some people may even find it boring. And that is never a good sign for a franchise film such as this.
DUNE GETS BLOWN DOWN A PLACE!
The epic Oscar-Winning science fiction epic ‘Dune’ is blown down a place this week. The film now protects its mining of Spice from the fourth position. Denis Villeneuve’s version of the Frank Herbert novel has been a revelation. Not only has it been a box office and home entertainment success, but it has also been richly rewarded at the various awards ceremonies. The film is an epic in every sense of the word. And thoughts and attention now turn to the sequel, which is gearing up to start production, ahead of a release next year.
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007 DROPS TO NUMBER 005!
James Bond will return sometime in the future (Daniel Craig’s version won’t). But for now, his latest adventure ‘No Time To Die’ drops a place to round out this week’s top five placings. The film completes the circle of events that began in 2006 with Craig’s first Bond film ‘Casino Royale.’ And, in a way, becomes a fitting ending to Craig’s time inside the tuxedo. That isn’t to say that the end of the film doesn’t shock the fans. But it seems appropriate for Daniel Craig’s version of Ian Fleming’s famous to leave the role in the way that he does.
ENCANTO IS ON THE RISE!
Moving up the chart once again is the Disney animated film ‘Encanto.’ The film seems to have managed to turn its Oscar win for the best-animated feature into more chart success. Not too shabby for a film that had a truncated cinematic run and hit Disney+ shortly after. The film continues to enchant the home audience from sixth place this week.
CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG GOES FOR A WALK!
The Paramount Pictures family film ‘Clifford The Big Red Dog’ decides it wants to go for a walk down the chart this week. The big-screen version of the classic children’s book moves down the chart to sit in seventh place.
WEST SIDE STORY DANCES DOWN A PLACE!
Despite winning an Oscar for best supporting actress (Ariana DeBose), the remake of ‘West Side Story’ decides it wants to dance down the chart this week. Steven Spielberg directs what can only be described as a terrific remake of the classic musical. Sadly, the film was a flop at the box office. The film now dances for the home audience from the eighth position.
KING RICHARD HITS ITS WAY INTO THE TOP TEN!
A lot has been made of THAT slap which occurred at this year’s Academy Awards. Too much if you ask me. But no matter the fallout, the Oscar win for Will Smith has boosted ‘King Richard’ into the top ten. The film has entered the top ten for the very first time by shooting up twenty-two places. It becomes this week’s ninth most popular title. The film is a biographical drama, looking at how the tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams’s lives were shaped by their father. The Williams sisters were executive producers on the film. I haven’t seen it but from what I hear, Will Smith’s performance deserved to win the Oscar.
PAW PATROL WALKS BACK INTO THE TOP TEN!
And finally, walking up seven places to return to the top ten once more is ‘PAW Patrol-The Movie.’ The animated film has delighted youngsters across the country. And the former number one title has decided to sit with us again in the tenth and final position.
FINISHING OFF!
And that’s all we have time for this week! My thanks for joining me as we look through the winners and losers of the top ten chart. Next week, we will be on the run-up to Easter and all that chocolate, perfect for a weekend of watching movies. It will be a case of who will be taking the top positions behind ‘Spider-Man’. Which films will rise and which will fall? That is up to you, the buying public. But until then…
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!
