"War Room" ascends to number one

Writer: Florey DM

"War Room" has risen to first place.

8 Sep – Sometimes all it takes is a little faith. American Christian drama film "War Room" climbed up a spot last weekend, dethroning N.W.A's biographical drama "Straight Outta Compton" at the weekend box office for 3 to 6 September.

"War Room" benefits from being the only PG-rated faith-based movie currently showing in the U.S. cinemas. Despite being lambasted by critics, the movie is well-received by audiences. The fifth movie from brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick, which has a production budget of USD3 million, collected another USD12.5 million last weekend, bringing its total gross to USD27.8 million.

"Straight Outta Compton" changed spot to number two, after three straight wins since its debut. Grossing USD11.2 million last weekend, the hip hop biopic made USD168.3 million worldwide so far against its USD28 million budget.

Strolling in at number three is new release, "A Walk in the Woods". Directed by Ken Kwapis, the comedy movie starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte as two old friends hiking along the Appalachian Trail made a weekend gross of USD10.5 million.

"The Transporter Refueled" opened first in M'sia.

Over in Malaysia, the first "Transporter" movie to not star Jason Statham, "The Transporter Refueled", took first place on its opening weekend. Directed by Camille Delamarre and starring Ed Skrein, the movie did not fare well with critics but was still loved enough by audiences to top the charts. Animated tear-jerker "Inside Out" stayed still at second place while "Hitman: Agent 47" fell two spots to third place.

"Inside Out" is still number one in Singapore while newly released Guy Ritchie-directed big screen-adaptation of the same name MGM television series, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", starring Henry Cavill, opened at number two. "Hitman: Agent 47" lost its footing and slipped one spot to number three.

Malaysia's new releases for last weekend include "No Escape", "Contracted: Phase 2", "Paayum Puli", "Welcome Back", "Usop Wilcha : Menghonjang Makhluk Muzium", "Assassination Classroom", "Savaale Samaali" and "Galapagos".

Other movies that opened in Singapore last weekend are "Paayum Puli", "Welcome Back", "Savaale Samaali", "Phantom", "Molly Moon And The Incredible Book Of Hypnotism", "Absolutely Anything", "Thomas And Friends: Sodor's Legend Of The Lost Treasure", "Me And Earl And The Dying Girl", "Undercover Duet", "All You Need is Love" and "Flowers Of Taipei: Taiwan New Cinema".