LOS ANGELES _ A week after its record-setting global debut, Universal's "The Fate of the Furious" is still ruling the box office to the chagrin of a host of newcomers.
"Fate" brought in an estimated $38.7 million in the U.S. and Canada, falling below analyst expectations of $45 million to $50 million. Its total domestic gross to date is $163.6 million. After blowing away all reasonable international projections last week, it brought in $163.4 million internationally this weekend, for an international total of $744.8 million to date. The film is expected to pass the $1 billion mark this week.
The second and third box office spots went to holdovers: Fox's "Boss Baby" brought in $12.8 million in its fourth week for a gross to date of $137 million while Disney's live-action "Beauty and the Beast" added $10 million to its coffers for a total domestic tally of $471.1 million in six weeks.
Faring the best of new releases was "Born in China," from Walt Disney Co.'s Disneynature brand, which eked out a fourth-place finish ahead of Warner Bros.' holdover "Going in Style" with $5 million. The documentary took in $5.1 million over the weekend, meeting analyst projections.
About the cute pandas and snow leopards from the wilderness of the world's second-largest box-office market, the flick was a favorite with moviegoers who gave it an A-minus CinemaScore. Critics also liked the picture, giving it an average 81 percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Such a performance is the largest start for a Disneynature title since 2012's "Chimpanzee."
As for the other major releases, they all performed poorly.
WB's "Unforgettable," which cost $12 million to make, brought in $4.8 million in receipts. The domestic thriller follows a vengeful character played by Katherine Heigl plotting against Rosario Dawson's character. Audiences and critics were disappointed by the film, with moviegoers giving it a C CinemaScore and reviewers barely mustering a 25 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Open Road's "The Promise" pulled in $4.1 million, a lousy opening considering its price tag of at least $90 million.
Directly addressing the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire starting in 1915, the film starring Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale from "Hotel Rwanda" director Terry George didn't generate enough buzz among theater patrons _ even with the endorsement of socialite Kim Kardashian West.
Audience members who saw the film did give it an A-minus CinemaScore but the Rotten Tomatoes rating rests at 46 percent positive.
While the industry waits for its next blockbuster, in the form of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," eSTX's "The Circle," Pantelion's "How to Be a Latin Lover" and BH Tilt's "Sleight" will be released Friday.
