‘Dog Man’ Leads U.K. and Ireland Box Office With Strong Debut as ‘A Complete Unknown’ Holds Firm

Universal’s “Dog Man” barked its way to the top of the U.K. and Ireland box office this weekend, debuting with a commanding £3.2 million ($4 million), according to Comscore.

The family-friendly animated adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s best-selling book series proved to be a major draw, delivering one of the biggest opening weekends of the year so far.

Last week’s leader, Disney’s “A Complete Unknown,” slid to second place, adding $1 million in its fourth weekend. The Timothée Chalamet-led Bob Dylan biopic has now reached $12.4 million. Also holding strong is Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which took third place with $869,889 in its eighth weekend. The prequel has now crossed $37.6 million, cementing itself as one of the highest-grossing family films of the season.

Trafalgar Releasing’s “Macbeth: David Tennant And Cush Jumbo,” the filmed stage production of Shakespeare’s tragedy climbed to fourth place with $858,637, bringing its total to $1.9 million. Paramount’s “September 5” debuted in fifth with a $793,853 opening weekend. Directed by Tim Fehlbaum and starring Peter Sarsgaard and John Magaro, the film has kicked off with a solid performance, benefiting from its wide release across 300+ locations.

Universal’s awards season darling “The Brutalist” continues its steady run, earning $581,023 in its third weekend for a cumulative total of $3.1 million.

Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” $521,783 in its seventh week, bringing its total to $30.7 million. The blue speedster’s latest outing continues to draw family audiences, holding firm in the top 10 despite competition from newer releases. Sony Pictures’ “Becoming Led Zeppelin,” the documentary exploring the legendary rock band’s rise, struck a chord with music fans, debuting in eighth place with $518,927.

Warner Bros.’ sci-fi thriller “Companion” landed at No. 9, earning $455,324 in its second weekend, bringing its total to $1.8 million. Rounding out the top 10, Disney’s “Moana 2” continued its long theatrical run with $303,741 in its 11th weekend, pushing its cumulative total to $51.7 million. The animated hit remains a major box office presence, proving to have remarkable legs.

New releases this week kick off on Wednesday, Feb. 12, with “Before Nikkah,” an independent British drama from London New Wave. Directed by Haider Zafar and starring Sasha Vadher, Aakash Shukal, and Aziz Kemal, the film explores love and cultural expectations in contemporary Britain.

Thursday, Feb. 13, sees the highly anticipated return of a beloved character with “Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy,” released by Universal. The latest installment in the Bridget Jones saga, based on Helen Fielding’s novel, brings Renée Zellweger back to the big screen as the ever-relatable Bridget, navigating new romantic challenges.

A jam-packed Friday, Feb. 14, delivers the week’s biggest release, “Captain America: Brave New World,” from Disney. The latest chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is expected to dominate the box office with Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson as the new Captain America in a post-Steve Rogers era.

For animation fans, Oscar nominated “Memoir of a Snail,” distributed by Modern Films, directed by Oscar-winner Adam Elliot, featuring a stellar voice cast including Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jacki Weaver and Eric Bana. Vertigo Releasing’s animated adventure “The Sloth Lane” opens wide, playing in 300+ locations. Conic releases Cannes-debuting “To A Land Unknown,” a refugee drama from director Mahdi Fleifel, Paramount’s “Heart Eyes” offers a slasher horror take on Valentine’s Day.

A timeless classic makes its return as Park Circus presents “Brief Encounter (80th Anniversary),” the David Lean-directed masterpiece starring Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard. Celebrating its milestone anniversary, the re-release gives audiences a chance to experience one of the most iconic British films of all time in select cinemas.

Several Indian releases round out the week. DJ Tech LTD releases Malayalam-language films, the drama “Bromance” and romance “Painkili,” while Dreamz Entertainment presents cross-dressing Telugu-language comedy “Laila.” Bakrania Media brings back the Bollywood classic “Hum Aapke Hain Koun!,” one of the biggest Indian films of all time. Yash Raj Films debuts “Chhaava,” a Hindi-language historical epic expected to attract a dedicated audience.