Los Angeles (AFP)

The Force is still and always with the planetary saga "Star Wars" whose latest installment, "The Ascension of Skywalker", crushed the box office with $ 177.4 million in revenue for its first weekend in the theaters in the United States and Canada, according to final figures published Monday by the specialized company Exhibitor Relations.

The feature, which closes the 42-year-old franchise, achieved the third best start in history for a film released in December, behind the two previous episodes of this ultimate trilogy: "The Force Awakens" and " The Last Jedi ", according to the Disney studios that produce it.

Despite the many criticisms surrounding the release of the film directed by JJ Abrams, "The Rise of Skywalker" is also the third best start of 2019, behind "Avengers: Endgame" and "The Lion King" (also produced by Disney) , and ranks 12th, all periods combined.

In total, the latest "Star Wars" has pocketed more than 375 million worldwide since its release last week.

In the North American market alone, it leaves far behind the intrepid players of "Jumanji: Next Level" who collected nearly seven times less between Friday and Sunday: $ 26.5 million.

Sequel to "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" (2017), the adventure film starring among others Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Jack Black, which features young people propelled in a video game, collected 101.9 million since its release last week.

Another Disney film, "Frozen 2", which sat for three weeks at the top of the box office, completes the podium with 13 million dollars (387.2 million in five weeks). The second part of this immense success follows the history of the royal family of Arendelle and promises to answer the questions of the fans, in particular on the origin of the astonishing powers of Elsa.

In fourth place, the adaptation of the musical "Cats" by Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech") made a resounding flop with only $ 6.6 million for its release. The Jellicle Cats' grand ball during an extraordinary night, exhausted by the critics, does not seem to have convinced the spectators despite the big names on the bill: Judy Dench, Idris Elba, Taylor Swift and Rebel Wilson, among others.

The police comedy "A couteaux tirés", with Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis and Chris Evans, completes the podium. The film, which stages an incredible investigation after the death of an octogenarian author of thrillers, raised $ 6.5 million for its fourth week in the cinema, for a total of nearly 90 million.

Here's the rest of the Top 10:

6. "Scandal" (5.1 million, 5.5 million in two weeks)

7. "The Richard Jewell Case" (2.6 million, 9.5 million in two weeks)

8. "Queen & Slim" (1.8 million, 36.6 million in four weeks)

9. "Le Mans 66": (1.8 million, 102 million in six weeks)

10. "Black Christmas" (1.8 million, 7.3 million in two weeks)

© 2019 AFP