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Monday 27 noveMber 2017
Pixar’s ‘Coco’ feasts on ‘Justice League’ at box office

By JAKE COYLE mestic box office. Accord-
AP Film Writer ing to studio estimates
NEW YORK (AP) — Pixar’s Sunday, it grossed $49 mil-
“Coco” sang its way to the lion from Friday to Sunday.
fourth best Thanksgiving Centered on the Mexican
weekend ever with an es- holiday Dia de Los Muertos
timated $71.2 million over (Day of the Dead), “Coco”
the five-day weekend, a has already set box office
total that easily toppled records in Mexico, where
Warner Bros.’ “Justice it has made $53.4 million in
League.” three weeks.
“Coco” rode strong re- After a disappointing de-
views and an A-plus Cin- but last weekend, the
emaScore from audiences much-maligned DC Com-
to the top spot at the do- ics superhero team-up film

In this image released by Disney-Pixar, character Hector, voiced by Gael Garcia Bernal, left, and
Miguel, voiced by Anthony Gonzalez, appear in a scene from the animated film, “Coco.”
(Disney-Pixar via AP)
“Justice League” slid to employees. Disney has said tent like this, where you’re
second with $40.7 million. In it supports Lasseter’s leave telling stories about real hu-
the five-day holiday frame, of absence. man beings and about di-
it earned about $60 million. Lasseter has been founda- versity,” said Dergarabedi-
“Justice League” is faring tional to the rise of Pixar an. “The Hispanic audience
better overseas, where it and the revitalization of is key to the success of any
has made more than $300 Disney Animation. “Coco” given box office year, giv-
million. is the latest in a long line of en the frequency and pas-
The two top spots told a fa- hits he’s overseen. sion for moviegoing.”Still,
miliar tale: Quality is trump- After some early blunders the most profitable movie
ing mediocrity at the box (Disney tried to trademark currently at the box office
office, where Rotten To- “Dia de Los Muertos,” might be the Lionsgate
mato ratings bear consid- sparking a backlash), the family release “Wonder,”
erable weight and where studio strove to capture directed by Stephen Ch-
word-of-mouth spreads Mexican culture authenti- bosky. Starring Jacob Trem-
lightning quick. “Coco” is cally in “Coco,” enlisting blay and Julia Roberts, the
Pixar’s sixth release to land cultural consultants for their film — which carries a pro-
an A-plus CinemaScore feedback. The film, direct- duction budget of $20 mil-
from audiences. The film’s ed by Lee Unkrich and co- lion — has made $69.4 mil-
Rotten Tomatoes rating, 96 directed by Adrian Molina, lion. It slid just 19 percent in
percent fresh, is more than is one of the largest U.S. its second week, with $22.3
double that of “Justice productions ever to feature million in ticket sales.
League” (41 percent). a largely all-Latino cast. A number of specialty re-
“In a world where movie- That makes “Coco” an leases with Oscar ambitions
going and quality seem to anomaly in the Pixar canon also hit theaters over the
be connected, having a but also in Hollywood. His- weekend. Of them, Sony
brand that has as consis- panics made up 23 per- Pictures Classics’ “Call Me
tently as Pixar has delivered cent of frequent moviego- By Your Name” came out
on very high expectations ers last year, but they’re with the best per-screen
definitely makes our work seldom catered to. Disney average: $101,219 in four
a little easier,” said Dave didn’t share ethnic demo- theaters. Not since “La La
Hollis, distribution chief graphics for “Coco” ticket Land” has a film so packed
for the Walt Disney Co., buyers but said signs point- theaters in specialty re-
which owns Pixar. “Con- ed to a high turnout among lease. The movie, starring
sumers have really come Latinos. But “Coco” also Timothee Chalamet and
to expect high quality. This performed well elsewhere, Armie Hammer, is about
is once again Pixar doing like in China where it made a young man’s coming of
what they do best.” $18.2 million. age in 1980s Northern Italy.
The success of “Coco” “Telling great stories that “Darkest Hour,” with
came just as reports of represent the audience is Gary Oldman as Winston
sexual misconduct were a part of what makes a film Churchill, debuted with
published regarding Pixar successful, especially when $176,000 on four screens.
co-founder and Disney Ani- you get it right,” said Hollis. The expanding releases of
mation Chief Creative Offi- Paul Dergarabedian, senior Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird”
cer John Lasseter. On Tues- media analyst for com- ($4 million on 791 screens)
day, Lasseter announced Score, called the film’s re- and Martin McDonaugh’s
that he was taking “a six- sult a positive story in “a “Three Billboards Outside
month sabbatical.” He week that was pretty chal- Ebbing, Missouri” ($4.4 mil-
acknowledged “missteps” lenging for Pixar.” lion on 614 screens) also
and “unwanted hugs” with “The future may lie in con- drew crowded theaters.q