Carl Roberts 
This week on The Official Film Chart, Thor gets thunderstruck, and the Crawdads sing louder, but nothing can prevent the Bullet Train from speeding to the top!
Welcome to The Official Film Chart.
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (EXTENDED VERSION) IS NOW AVAILABLE TO BUY!
Ok, we all saw it in the cinema at the back end of last year. But now, there’s more. Swinging in on a thread this week, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home (Extended Edition)’ has made itself available to buy. This new version includes eleven minutes of new footage, including deleted scenes, that bump up the running time to an incredible 2 hours and 37 minutes. The film is, to my mind, the best of the three solo films starring Tom Holland as the character.
This is due to the returning villains from all the movies dating back to the 2002 original Sam Raimi-directed movie. But also, thanks to the crowd and fan-pleasing returns of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as their versions of Peter Parker/ Spider-Man. With great support from Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, the film is superb. Grab it now at the bargain price of £9.99.
THE OFFICIAL CHART
While Spider-Man gets extended, the chart this week sees a slight shakeup. Two titles stick firm in their placings, while others move around as they want. And we have one new entry and one re-entry into the chart. To make way for these newbies, we say farewell to ‘The Railway Children Return’, and ‘The Black Phone.’ But what is holding the top spot this week? Is it still rocking with Love And Thunder? Has it been taken over by Minion power? Or have the dinosaurs roared back? Check your tickets as we take our seats to find out.
BULLET TRAIN SPEEDS ITS WAY TO THE TOP!
After hitting the chart last week in the second position, Brad Pitt and ‘Bullet Train’ have sped upwards to land the coveted top spot this week. The film has seen its momentum increase as it rises based on digital downloads alone. The film stars Brad Pitt as a begrudging assassin who must battle fellow killers while riding the Tokaido Shinkansen. The film also stars Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Bad Bunny, and Sandra Bullock.
It is based on the 2010 novel Maria Beetle (titled Bullet Train in its UK and US edition) by Kōtarō Isaka. And is one of the best films of the year. Ignore the mixed reviews from the critics. Settle back and watch something that is bats**t crazy and highly entertaining!
THE DINOSAURS ROAR BACK!
Not to be outdone, the dinosaurs that inhabit ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ have decided to come roaring back this week. The film has risen a place to claim the second spot this week. It is the third and final installment in the Jurassic World trilogy as well as the sixth installment in the Jurassic Park franchise, concluding the storyline of the original Jurassic Park trilogy. It is set four years after the events of Fallen Kingdom, with dinosaurs now living alongside humans around the world.
It stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill. It is also the weakest of the six films and ends the franchise on a damp rather than triumphant note. Younger viewers may enjoy seeing the CGI creatures once again, but adults will find themselves rolling their eyes.
BELLO! THE MINIONS ARE ON THE RISE!
Another film that has seen itself rise by a single place is ‘Minions: The Rise Of Gru.’ The animated sequel now spreads its highly enjoyable mayhem from the third position. In the film, an 11-year-old Gru plans to become a supervillain with the help of his Minions, which leads to a showdown with a malevolent team, the Vicious 6.
Hilarious antics ensue, as you would expect. And had me in tears of laughter. There is just something about the lovable little yellow creatures that you can’t resist. Ever since the original ‘Despicable Me’, they are guaranteed to make us roar with laughter. And yet again, they produce the goods.
THE CRAWDADS SING THEMSELVES UP THE CHART!
The mystery thriller drama film ‘Where The Crawdads Sing’ has spread its wings. It has risen two places to sing from the fourth spot this week. Based on the novel of the same name by Delia Owens, the film stars Daisy Edgar-Jones in the lead role of Kya. The film also features Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, Michael Hyatt, Sterling Macer Jr., Jojo Regina, Garret Dillahunt, Ahna O’Reilly, and David Strathairn.
The film sees an abandoned yet defiant girl, Kya, who raises herself to adulthood in a North Carolina marshland, becoming a naturalist in the process. When the town’s hotshot is found dead, she becomes the prime suspect and is tried for murder. Fans of the book will enjoy the film as it sticks pretty close to what was written and published.
ELVIS IS STUCK ON YOU AT NUMBER FIVE!
The king of rock and roll refuses to wiggle those hips down or up the chart this week as ‘Elvis’ holds firm in the fifth position. The film is an enigma. If you were to take the story seen in the first hour, remove the ludicrous modern music. And add it to the final hour and three-quarters, and you’d have the perfect film.
The movie contains a sure-fire Oscar-nominated performance by Austin Butler as Elvis himself. With tremendous support from Tom Hanks as his long-time manager, Colonel Tom Parker. The recreated Las Vegas performances are something that needs to be seen to be believed. Butler is amazing in the role. And it shows from the very start of the film.
THOR LOSES HIS THUNDER!
We now move towards the bottom five places. And last week’s number one is this week’s number six as ‘Thor: Love & Thunder’ drops five positions. Chris Hemsworth once again returns as the Norse God in his fourth solo film. Sadly, despite support from Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman, and Christian Bale, the film is extremely poor. Far from being something we can enjoy and cheer for, it ends up being an embarrassing, sloppy mess.
MAVERICK IS STUCK IN A HOLDING PATTERN!
The best film of the year and of the summer, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ finds itself held in a holding pattern this week. The long-awaited Tom Cruise-led sequel continues to amaze and engage in the seventh position. However, the film will be hitting the physical formats on October 31st and will see a boost to its fortunes.
THE LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS ARRIVES!
Our only new entry this week comes into the chart in the eighth position. And we say hello to the ‘D.C League Of Super-Pets.’ The animated film, starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart as hounds Krypto and Ace, sees the formation of a ‘super-pet’ squad on a mission to save Superman from kidnap. The film is a good family movie to sit down with and enjoy together with a few snacks, fizzy drinks, and chocolate. But parents, be prepared for the little ones to demand repeat viewings of the film! They will love it.
SING 2 DECIDES TO SING INSIDE THE TOP TEN AGAIN!
Would you believe it? The animated sequel ‘Sing 2’ has once again returned to the top ten. The film has risen three places to take the ninth spot this week. It would be a huge surprise if the film didn’t feature as one of the top three purchased titles of 2022 at the end of the year. It has been in and out of the chart for months. And continues to bounce up and down the placings.
A NEW ERA CONTINUES AT NUMBER TEN!
No, not that kind of new era at number ten! Instead of the drama that’s happening in Downing Street, we are taken back in time to find ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ has held fast in the tenth and final position in the chart this week.
FINISHING OFF!
And the chart train terminates here. We have seen yet another week of moving about as the titles desire. But as we approach Halloween, we will possibly see some horror-tinged titles suddenly arrive to shake things up for a week or so before vanishing again for another year. And then, we will sit back and wait for the Christmas titles to start to arrive. 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.
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!
