For once, the top 10 movies on iTunes and Fandango aren’t close to a mirror image of each other. “Conclave” (Focus) and “Terrifier 3” (Cineverse), both successful October releases that exceeded theatrical expectations, were released on PVOD last week. They had the same availability ($19.99 for 48 hour rental, $24.99 to digitally download) yet vastly different results.
Edward Berger’s top award-contending “Conclave” took an immediate top spot at iTunes from its first day, yet is only #8 for the full-week in the Fandango top 10. Damien Leone’s “Terrifier 3” leads at Fandango, yet only briefly appeared during the week at iTunes (debuting at #3) before dropping off the list. It currently ranks #14.
The two charts can vary, but mainly in cases of different pricing. Fandango ranks by revenue accrued for a title, while iTunes goes by transactions. But in this case, they are the same price, making the different placements quite odd. In terms of relative position using daily charts for the week, “Terrifier 3” looks like it would have placed #8 there on a seven day list.
Netflix, after two beefcake Christmas originals (“Hot Frosty” then “The Merry Gentlemen”) at #1 on its domestic movie top 10, continues the holiday theme with “Our Little Secret.” This one stars Lindsay Lohan (who has a production deal with the streamer) and Ian Harding as a former couple unexpectedly spending the holiday together when it turns out they are currently dating each others’ siblings.
“Elevation” (Vertical), a thriller with Anthony Mackie, also debuted on both charts. It took third place at Fandango, unexpectedly much higher than “Conclave.” It is #8 at iTunes. Also new, but only at Fandango, is “Dear Santa” (Paramount) starring Jack Black. It’s fourth there, but only #27 at iTunes (it can be bought for $14.99). Made for Paramount+, it was released initially on PVOD.
“Santa” shares with “Secret” a pedigree in its director. Lindsay Lohan’s film is directed by Stephen Herek, whose credits include “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” “The Mighty Ducks,” “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” and the live action “101 Dalmations.” Bobby Farrelly, of the Farrelly Brothers (“There’s Something About Mary,” “Dumb and Dumber,” “Me Myself and Irene”) directed “Santa.” Both have had storied careers, but the kinds of hits they made are no longer on the frontburner of theatrical production.
This week’s VOD charts feature several films in top positions because of newly reduced rental prices. “The Substance” (MUBI), now #3 at iTunes, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (Warner Bros.) #2 at Fandango, rare for a $5.99 price film there, “Deadpool & Wolverine” (Disney) all were elevated. The perennial “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (Universal) is #2 at iTunes, ninth at Fandango.
Though three other originals are on Netflix’s top 10 (including #2 “Spellbound,” which was first for a day during the week, and just released “The Snow Sister” from Norway #10), their acclaimed “The Piano Lesson” dropped off after only one week, getting no higher than #5. A number of new studio library titles were added, with “Fast” starring the ubiquitous Dwayne Johnson (the 2010 film is not part of the “Fast and Furious” franchise) #2 at the moment.
Top 10s
iTunes ranks films daily by number of transactions, while Fandango at Home lists by revenue. The listings below are for Monday, December 2 (iTunes) and the week of November 25-December 1 (Fandango).
The distributors listed are current rights owners. Prices for all titles are for lowest for either rental or download.
iTunes
1. Conclave (Focus) – $19.99
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Universal) – $3.99
3. The Substance (MUBI) – $5.99
4. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (WB) – $5.99
5. Smile 2 (Paramount) – $19.99
6. The Wild Robot (Universal) – $19.99
7. Deadpool & Wolverine (Disney) – $5.99
8. Elevation (Vertical) – $19.99
9. It Ends with Us (Sony) – $5.99
10. Reagan (Showbiz Direct) – $5.99
Fandango at Home
1. Terrifier 3 (Cineverse) – $19.99
2. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (WB) – $5.99
3. Elevation (Vertical) – $19.99
4. Dear Santa (Paramount) – $14.99
5. Smile 2 (Paramount) – $19.99
6. The Wild Robot (Universal) – $19.99
7. Deadpool & Wolverine (Disney) – $5.99
8. Conclave (Focus) – $19.99
9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Universal) – $3.99
10. Twisters (Universal) – $5.99
Netflix Movies
These are the most-viewed, current rankings on Netflix’s domestic daily chart on December 2. Originals include both Netflix-produced and acquired titles it initially presents in the U.S. Netflix publishes its own worldwide weekly top 10 on Tuesdays based on time viewed, and usually includes films for which it doesn’t have domestic rights.They have no other U.S.-only weekly chart.
1. Our Little Secret (Netflix original)
2. Faster (2010 theatrical release)
3. Transformers (2007 theatrical release)
4. The Dark Tower (2017 theatrical release)
5. Spellbound (Netflix animated original)
6. The Merry Gentlemen (Netflix original)
7. Afraid (2024 theatrical release)
8. Little (2019 theatrical release)
9. Midway (2019 theatrical release)
10. The Snow Sister (Netflix Norwegian original)
