‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ unseats ‘Beauty and the Beast’ as highest-grossing film of 2017

The Force remains strong with “Star Wars: The Last Jedi� as the latest installment of the “Star Wars� saga is projected to become the highest-grossing film of 2017 on the final day of the year.

Disney’s space odyssey grossed $52.4 million Friday through Sunday, bringing its projected 2017 gross to $517.1 million, edging out fellow Disney property “Beauty and the Beast,� which grossed $504 million earlier in the year.

Although “The Last Jedi� is projected to win the weekend proper, Sony’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle� may prove to carry the holiday.

The reboot of 1995’s “Jumanji� took in $50.57 million at the box office Friday through Sunday, but strong New Years Day projections have the movie earning $67 million through Monday, surpassing the holiday weekend projections for “The Last Jedi� at $65.6 million.

“Jumanji� is expected to gross $186.3 million through Monday in its second weekend of release.

The rest of the top five at the box office remains in stasis from last weekend.

Universal’s “Pitch Perfect 3� lands at No. 3. The latest a cappella adventure of the Bellas earned $17.78 million Friday through Sunday, bringing the film’s cumulative gross to $64.27 million in its second weekend of release. In comparison, “Pitch Perfect 2� earned $69.2 million during its opening weekend in 2015.

Fox’s “The Greatest Showman� is holding strong at No. 4 at the box office, grossing more over the New Year’s holiday than it did in its first weekend of release. The tale of P.T. Barnum starring Hugh Jackman grossed an estimated $15.27 million through Sunday.

Fox’s “Ferdinand� held steady in its third weekend of release, earning $11.65 million Friday through Sunday, good enough for a top five finish at the box office.

“Coco,� the latest offering from Disney’s Pixar, continues to score at home and abroad. Landing at No. 6 at the weekend box office, the film earned $6.6 million in its sixth week of release, bringing its domestic cumulative gross to $178.9 million. Combined with an estimated international gross of $359 million, “Coco’s� global box office take stands at an estimated $537.9 million through Sunday.

Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill continues to perform. Focus Features’ “Darkest Hour� added $5.28 million to its box office gross through Sunday, bringing its domestic cumulative gross to $17.927 million in its fifth weekend of release.

“All the Money in the World� landed at No. 8 in its first full weekend of release. The true story of the kidnapping of J. Paul Getty’s grandson opened Christmas Day and earned $5.45 million Friday through Sunday. The Sony picture starring Christopher Plummer as a late substitute for a role Kevin Spacey had already filmed has grossed $12.64 million.

Paramount’s quirky comedy “Downsizing,� centered around shrinking humans to combat overpopulation, continues to have undersized box office earnings. Directed by Alexander Payne and starring Matt Damon, the film earned $4.6 million through Sunday in its second week of release. “Downsizing� has cumulatively grossed $17 million.

Finally, rounding out the top 10 is Warner Bros.’ “Father Figures� starring Owen Wilson and Ed Helms, a comedy about fraternal twins in search of their biological father, earned $4.7 million in its second weekend of release, bringing its cumulative gross to $12.74 million.

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