The old ham in first - finally

The UK box office dipped this weekend, with the top 15 titles totalling a decline of 21% from last weekend. A trio of new releases entered the chart, two of them landing inside the top five, while several long‑running performers crossed notable milestones.

Weekend Roundup:

• Shelter — £964,903 opening; 481 screens; Week 1. The third‑best opening of the year, delivering a strong result for a mid‑scale release. Its debut comes without any preview uplift, giving it a solid platform heading into February.

• Iron Lung — £948,731 opening; 397 screens; Week 1; includes £114,285 from 217 previews. The fourth‑best opening of the year and the sixth‑widest release. A muscular start for a genre title, with previews contributing meaningfully to its total.

• Primate — £659,256 opening; 505 screens; Week 1; includes £149,230 from 327 previews. A healthy launch for a documentary‑leaning title, boosted by a substantial preview programme.

• Is This Thing On? — £601,829 opening; 471 screens; Week 1; includes £167,009 from 308 previews. A mid‑table debut with a strong preview share, suggesting front‑loaded interest.

• Kangaroo — £292,208 opening; 486 screens; Week 1; includes £1,895 from 2 previews. A modest start for a niche release with minimal preview activity.

Holdovers and Milestones:

• Hamnet — £1,412,612; Week 4; down 28%. Total now £14,841,239. Continues to show excellent staying power, retaining the top spot despite the arrival of three new titles.

• The Housemaid — £1,399,262; Week 6; down 31%. Total now £28,480,667. Now the 191st top‑grossing film ever in the UK, sitting just behind Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical.

• Zootropolis 2 — £855,208; Week 10; down 17%. Total now £32,609,792. Now the 145th top‑grossing film ever, just behind Deadpool 2. Remarkably steady for a family title this deep into its run.

• Avatar: Fire And Ash — £743,241; Week 7; down 33%. Total now £41,299,901. This places it as the 85th highest‑grossing film ever in the UK, just behind Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. On the adjusted chart, it's now up to 236th place behind Spider-Man: Homecoming.

• Marty Supreme — £688,844; Week 6; down 32%. Total now £14,806,423. Continues to perform well for a character‑driven drama.

• 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple — £612,439; Week 3; down 50%. Total now £6,939,466. A sharp drop but still a strong cumulative figure for a third‑week horror sequel.

• The Spongebob Movie: Search For Squarepants — £294,848; Week 6; down 23%. Total now £8,202,785. A steady hold for a family title.

• No Other Choice — £273,618; Week 2; down 56%. Without previews, the fall‑off is 37%, indicating a more stable underlying performance. Total now £1,181,658.

• Mercy — £187,408; Week 2; down 69%. Without previews, the fall‑off remains 69%, suggesting front‑loaded interest. Total now £1,084,717.

• The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King (Re: 2026) — £215,804; Week 3; up 457%. Total now £490,600. A dramatic surge driven by expanded anniversary screenings.

Quick Take

A softer weekend overall, but notable for the strength of new entries Shelter and Iron Lung, both landing among the year’s top openings. Hamnet and The Housemaid continue to show impressive resilience, while Avatar: Fire And Ash and Zootropolis 2 climb further up the all‑time UK chart. Preview activity played a major role across several titles, particularly Is This Thing On? and Primate, while holdovers varied widely in stability.

Ones to Watch Next Week:

A mix of prestige titles, family releases, and genre fare arrive next weekend. Among the most likely to make an impact:

• The Strangers – Chapter 3 

• Euphoria 

• The Chronology of Water 

.• The Scarecrows’ Wedding 

• Out 

Final Take:

A 21% drop across the top 15 marks a quieter frame, but strong debuts from Shelter and Iron Lung kept the market active. Several long‑running titles crossed significant milestones, reinforcing the depth of the current slate. Next weekend’s mix of franchise entries, YA‑driven releases, and family offerings should help stabilise the market as February unfolds.