This week on The Official Film Chart, Sonic gets beaten, and Top Gun flies back into the chart, but it’s a New Era as Downton Abbey takes the top spot!
Welcome to The Official Film Chart.
TOP GUN: MAVERICK IS OUT TO BUY ON DIGITAL TODAY!
One of this year’s best summer blockbusters has flown onto digital download this morning. Tom Cruise makes a triumphant return as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in the terrific sequel ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’ (Read our review here.) I saw the film in IMAX upon its release and can confidently say, it is a nostalgic trip back to 1986 and the original while also moving the story forward. Cruise, in perhaps his most popular role ever, is superb as Maverick. He may be older but the rebellious streak remains, thirty-six years after he first graced the screen. The film has all the thrills, spills, and aerial sequences that are truly breathtaking. But it also has heart, which is surprising to the audience. And I defy anyone who loves the original to not have goosebumps when the ‘Top Gun Anthem’ starts to play. The film is a must-own. And I already have my copy!
THE OFFICIAL CHART
As for this week’s chart, while we await Maverick to fly in next week, it is yet another week of movers and shakers. Titles come, titles go. And this week, we bid farewell to ‘Heat’, Dune’, and ‘Sonic The Hedgehog/ Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Box Set’. But what is currently holding the top position? Is the number one still held by a speeding hedgehog? Have the Fantastic Beasts rallied to return to the summit? Or has something else decided to steal the thunder of a number one finish? Time to find out.
A NEW ERA BEGINS AT NUMBER ONE!
After three weeks on the chart, ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ has managed to climb up the chart to become our brand new number one. The film, again based on the beloved ITV drama series, has managed to hit the top thanks to being released on the physical formats. In the film, Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, astonishes the family by revealing that long ago she was gifted a villa in the South of France by the Marquis de Montmirail, who had recently passed away. Meanwhile, a film production company wants to use Downton to shoot a silent film called “The Gambler”. Robert declines, until his eldest daughter and estate manager, Lady Mary Talbot, convinces him that the fee would be enough to replace Downton’s leaking roof. The film scored great critical praise and the fans took the film to their hearts once again.
Credit: Ben Blackall / © 2021 Focus Features, LLC
THOSE FANTASTIC BEASTS REFUSE TO YIELD THE SECOND POSITION!
Holding firm in the second position is the third film in the Wizarding World franchise. The film, ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore’ manages to continue its success on home entertainment. Once again featuring Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law, the film picks up after its predecessor. Although it was better than the second movie, the film struggled somewhat at the box office, becoming the lowest grossing of the franchise. But all is not lost. It is rumored that a fourth film in the Harry Potter spin-off series will indeed be made. We still await confirmation of this but it wouldn’t surprise me to see the characters return once more.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG IS BEATEN ONCE AGAIN!
After racing back to the top spot last week, thanks to its release on the disc formats, ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ loses the chart race for the number one position. The film is a brilliant sequel to the original film. And I had lots of fun with it. I consider it to be the family film of the summer and the buying public seems to agree with me. But that alone hasn’t prevented the film from dropping two places this week to third. But again, there is great news for the franchise. Next December, we will be seeing a third film featuring the characters. And this time, they will be facing Shadow The Hedgehog. The brief tease in the closing credits stinger was enough to get the fans in a whirlpool of delirium. And I can’t wait to see where the franchise goes next.
THE BATMAN RISES OUT OF THE SHADOWS!
Still watching Gotham City from the shadows, ‘The Batman’ has decided to emerge from his hiding place to move up the chart. The three-hour-long detective noir comic book drama rises a single place to number four. Robert Pattinson portrays The Dark Knight for the first time in an impressive debut. Again, it is great news for the fans. Despite all the goings-on at Warner Bros regarding their content, Matt Reeves has signed a deal with the studio that guarantees that a second film will be made. The director has started to write the film now but we can’t expect to see it until 2024 at the earliest. I’m guessing it won’t be until 2025 in all reality. But until then, the fans and the buying public can enjoy the first film over and again.
SING 2 WARBLES ITS WAY BACK INTO THE CHART!
You wouldn’t credit it, would you? After holding the top spot, dropping down, leaving the chart, popping back up, and leaving again, ‘Sing 2’ returns to the chart again in the fifth position. The animated sequel has been a huge success ever since it debuted on home entertainment. The story is set after the events of the previous film, where Buster Moon and his group put on a show in Redshore City while working to impress an entertainment mogul and enlist a reclusive rock star to perform. The kids will love it, lapping it up in their droves. And it provides some great entertainment for the summer holidays.
DOWNTON ABBEY DOUBLES DOWN WITH THE DRAMA!
Not being content with holding the top spot, Downton Abbey decides it wants to double down on the drama. Our only new entry into the chart this week comes in at number six. The ‘Downton Abbey/ Downton Abbey: A New Era Box Set’ gives the fans, well, both of the cinematic incarnations of the series. The fans have been lapping it up and buying it in their droves. The set is the perfect night in for the drama fan and will make a nice gift come Christmas.
Credit: Jaap Buitendijk / Focus Features
THE LOST CITY IS STILL BEING FOUND!
Rising a place this week to steal the seventh position is the action romance comedy ‘The Lost City.’ Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum make for a brilliant pairing in a film that while nothing we haven’t seen before, is highly entertaining, amusing, and enjoyable. And Daniel Redcliffe makes for the unlikeliest of villains.
TOP GUN FLIES BACK INTO THE CHART!
We could see it coming, couldn’t we? On the week that its sequel, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ gets a digital retail release, the original ‘Top Gun’ hits the afterburners and races back into the chart. The original Tom Cruise movie had quite the success when its sequel opened at the cinema. And it has had another boost to its fortunes this week, rising seven places to take the eighth position.
DOCTOR STRANGE IS ABOUT TO VANISH INTO THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS!
Dropping three places to end the week in ninth, ‘Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness’ is in danger of dropping out of the chart next week. The Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen-led film is still a highlight of the cinematic year. And while it may lose its chart place next week, it is still available on Disney+ for all subscribers.
GREASE IS STILL THE WORD!
And finally, dropping six places to hang over the chart exit door, the hit musical ‘Grease’ holds up the rest of the top ten. The fans have been buying the film as a tribute to the late Dame Olivia Newton-John following her sad passing from cancer. The 1978 movie remains a favorite amongst the UK public and will continue for years to come.
FINISHING OFF!
And that is all we have time for this week. Next week’s chart is going to be extremely interesting once ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ arrives. The film isn’t due to hit the physical formats until October 31st so we can only watch and see how fate deals with the film with this in mind. But until next week…
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!
