'The Secret Life Of Pets' retains UK lead as 'Absolutely Fabulous' dazzles

UK TOP FIVE

(Note - Dollar conversions are based on today’s rates)

UNIVERSAL

The Secret Life Of Pets enjoyed a superb second weekend to retain the lead at the UK box office.

Universal’s latest Illumination Entertainment release fell only 21% (excluding previews) with $6.3m (£4.74m) for a healthy $22.1m (£16.61m) to date. With more than £2m added Mon-Thurs, it seems to be connecting with an older audience too.

It will shortly overtake Despicable Me’s $26.4m (£19.9m) UK result and looks set for a lengthy run, even if the likes of Ice Age: Collision Course and Finding Dory affect it over the coming weeks.

Also for Universal, Central Intelligence shot to a strong $4.1m (£3.05m) UK bow from its 444 sites, including $1m (£775,796) in previews, to chart third.

That marks director Rawson Marshall Thurber’s best-ever opening, topping Dodgeball’s $2.9m (£2.2m) from 315 sites, and also Kevin Hart’s strongest live-action debut as lead or co-lead.

FOX

Crack open the Bolly, Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie is off to an absolutely fantastic start in the UK.

Fox’s adaptation of the much-loved TV show partied to a non-final $5.4m (£4.03m) from its 615 sites, marking a $8,710 (£6,559) site average. This coming weekend will give an indication if it’s a fast-burn or capable of a longer run.

In terms of recent openings for British TV adaptations, Ab Fab opened above Dad’s Army ($2.8m/£2.08m from 585), but just below Mrs. Brown’s Boys D’Movie ($5.7m/£4.3m from 522).

Also for Fox, Independence Day: Resurgence fell 51% (excluding previews) on its way to a non-final $2.7m (£2.02m) second weekend. The alien invasion sequel now stands at $12.2m (£9.16m).

Ice Age: Collision Course held previews in England this weekend and opened Scotland and Ireland, rolling to a non-final $1.3m (£1m). This won’t be officially counted until its nationwide release on July 15.

X-Men: Apocalypse stands at $24.3m (£18.27m).

WARNER BROS

The Conjuring 2 rounded off this week’s top five with a $1.1m (£821,000) third weekend.

Warner Bros’ horror sequel has now scared up $12.6m (£9.45m) after 21 days in play, and will hope to be close to overtaking The Conjuring’s $13.9m (£10.5m) result by the end of this coming weekend.

Also for Warner Bros, Me Before You added $470,000 (£354,000) for an excellent $11.9m (£8.93m) after five weeks in play.

ICON FILM DISTRIBUTION

Falling around 50%, Icon Film Distribution’s The Nice Guys added an extra $133,000 (£99,819) for $4.9m (£3.69m) after five weeks in play.

DISNEY

With a 59% drop in its sixth weekend, Disney’s Alice Through The Looking Glass sailed to a further $104,000 (£78,000) for $12.7m (£9.54m). It won’t match the $14m (£10.56m) opening of its predecessor.

Also for Disney, The Jungle Book has now swung to $60.7m (£45.74m) after 12 weeks in play.

PARAMOUNT

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows is now up to $7.9m (£5.96m) following a $99,000 (£75,000) fifth weekend through Paramount. It will finish its run with less than half its predecessor’s $18.5m (£13.9m) result.

SONY

In its eighth week of release, Sony’s The Angry Birds Movie hit the £10m mark with a $66,000 (£50,000) weekend.

EUREKA ENTERTAINMENT

From its six sites through Eureka Entertainment, Queen Of Earth posted a UK debut of $3,900 (£2,918).

UPCOMING RELEASES

This week sees saturation releases for eOne’s Now You See Me 2 (opens today), Warner Bros’ The Legend Of Tarzan (opens July 6) and Sony’s Maggie’s Plan.

Icon Film Distribution’s The Neon Demon receives a wide release, while Dogwoof’s Weiner is among the films receiving a limited release.