Like its predecessors, the third film in the hit Shade series Fifty Shades Freed has debuted number one at the box office with an estimated $38.8 million. The final film in the trilogy was able to hold off fellow newcomers Peter Rabbit and The 15:17 to Paris. Freed earned an estimated $98 million overseas for a weekend debut of $139 million total worldwide.
For comparison, 2015’s Fifty shades opened with $85 million domestically and 2017’s Fifty Shades Darker opened with a $45 million weekend. While Freed earned less than its two predecessors, the franchise has crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide.
Peter Rabbit finished second with a domestic estimate of $25 million. The new Sony animated film is the 80th best all-time February opening weekend, finishing a mere $4,500 behind 2014’s Robocop remake which sits uncomfortably at 79. Rabbit opened in 3,768 theaters, which is the fifth largest per-screen-February-opening of all time.
Third place finisher The 15:17 to Paris opened with an estimated $12.6 million. The Clint Eastwood film is the director’s sixth largest grossing opening weekend of all-time. Sounds unbelievable but a film like American Sniper which grossed $350 million domestically and $547.4 million worldwide opened in only four theaters back in 2014.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle added another $9.8 million for a domestic total of $365 million. The film was released 54 days ago, still occupies a top five position and has earned more than $881 million. I think it’s safe to say, the film has been a huge disappointment.
The Greatest Showman has shown great resilience and rounds out our weekend top five with an estimated $6.4 million. The musical sits at $146 million, and is the sixth highest grossing musicals of all-time.
Here’s the top five weekend box office estimates via Collider:
Title | Weekend Domestic BO | Total Domestic BO |
1. ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ | $38,806,000 | $38,806,000 |
2. ’Peter Rabbit’ | $25,000,000 | $25,000,000 |
3. ‘The 15:17 to Paris’ | $12,600,000 | $12,600,000 |
4. ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ | $9,825,000 | $365,656,871 |
5. ‘The Greatest Showman’ | $6,400,000 | $146,535,870 |