'Aquaman' still rules the box office, but other films enjoy a post-Christmas bump, too

LOS ANGELES -- In the final weekend of 2018, "Aquaman" still led the pack at the box office, but other films such as "Mary Poppins Returns," "The Mule" and "Second Act" enjoyed post-holiday bumps, too, even amid an onslaught of new Christmas offerings such as "Vice," "Holmes and Watson," "On the Basis of Sex" and the Netflix phenomenon "Bird Box."

Warner Bros. said Sunday that "Aquaman" added an estimated $51.6 million in North American ticket sales over the weekend to take first place again. Down just 24 percent from its domestic debut, the DC Comics pic, which has been No. 1 internationally for four weeks, has now grossed nearly $748.8 million worldwide.

Although other films in theaters were left in "Aquaman's" wake, more than a few in the top 10 experienced an uncommon uptick in returns this weekend. Disney's "Mary Poppins Returns" ended the weekend up an estimated 19 percent, in second place, with $28 million, while "Bumblebee," down only 5 percent, settled in third with $20.5 million.

Up 11 percent, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" got fourth with $18.3 million, and "The Mule," up 24 percent, took fifth with $11.8 million.

The Jennifer Lopez-led "Second Act," which got off to a slow start last weekend, also found itself up 11 percent, with $7.2 million in seventh place. But the biggest bump of all came for Disney's "Ralph Breaks the Internet," which was up nearly 40 percent in its sixth weekend in theaters, with $6.5 million.

This image shows, from left, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson, Nathanael Saleh and Emily Blunt in "Mary Poppins Returns."Jay Maidment ~ Disney via AP

"There is a bit of a lull on the weekend leading into Christmas. People are busy and distracted," said Comscore's senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "But the weekend after, most of these films in the top 10 got a bounce."

This so-called "catch-up" weekend made it a little difficult for the Christmas newcomers to make a huge impact, however, especially when the big wide-releases this time were either politically charged (the Dick Cheney movie "Vice") or poorly reviewed ("Holmes and Watson," which is in the single digits on Rotten Tomatoes and got a deathly D+ CinemaScore).

Annapurna's "Vice," starring Christian Bale as the former vice president, came out on top for the new films, grossing $7.8 million from the weekend and $17.7 million since its Christmas opening. A leading contender at the Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 6, the film earned mixed reviews from critics and a C+ CinemaScore from audiences.

"That a movie with that subject matter can ride a wave to sixth place is really indicative of how interested people are in this movie," Dergarabedian said. "This is required viewing for anyone studying the awards season race."

Driven by the star-power of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, "Holmes and Watson" managed to take in $7.3 million despite the negative audience and critic reviews. The Sony film has grossed $19.7 million since Christmas Day.

And in limited release, the Ruth Bader Ginsburg film "On the Basis of Sex" starring Felicity Jones grossed $690,000 from 33 locations, for a total of $1.5 million since its debut. The Laurel and Hardy film "Stan & Ollie," also with Reilly, opened on five screens to $79,674," and "Destroyer," with Nicole Kidman, earned $58,472 from three locations.

The box office year as a whole is barreling toward a record $11.9 billion in returns, as time runs out on 2018, although final numbers won't be in from all the studios until mid-week.

"This is the perfect way to end a record box office year," Dergarabedian said. "This weekend represented everything that this year was about: Diversity, escapism and the movie-going experience in the theater, once again proving that the movie theater can take on all competition and come out a winner."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Aquaman," $51.6 million ($85.4 million international).

2. "Mary Poppins Returns," $28 million ($28.9 million international).

3. "Bumblebee," $20.5 million ($45.7 million international).

4. "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," $18.3 million ($27.4 million international).

5. "The Mule," $11.8 million.

6. "Vice," $7.8 million ($875,160 international).

7. "Holmes and Watson," $7.3 million ($4 million international).

8. "Second Act," $7.2 million ($1.5 million international).

9. "Ralph Breaks the Internet," $6.5 million ($13.7 million international).

10. "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch," $4.2 million ($17.5 million international).

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Comscore:

1. "Aquaman," $85.4 million.

2. "Bumblebee," $45.7 million.

3. "Mary Poppins Returns," $28.9 million.

4. "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," $27.4 million.

5. "Kill Mobile," $20 million.

6. "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch," $17.5 million.

7. "Bohemian Rhapsody," $17.1 million.

8. "Mojin: The Worm Valley," $16.7 million.

9. "Ralph Breaks the Internet," $13.7 million.

10. "Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald," $8.2 million.

Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ldbahr