TOP GROSSING FILIPINO FILMS OF 2018

Filipino films bounces back after a series of so-so performance at the box-office during the first half of the year, The Hous of Us breaks all box-office records previously held by Vice Ganda starrer "Gandarapido: The Avenger Squad" (P690M). To-date T.H.O.S. has grossed a whopping P701.2M (and counting), followed by Sid Aya with P167M but another Star Cinema release "Exes Baggage" is expected to outgross Sid Aya soon; the movie had a remarkable opening day gross of P21M and earned P71M in just 3 days.

It is interesting to note that at lease 2 low budget indie films made it to the top 10 albeit below the 100M breach mark and coincidentally both are Bela Padillla starrers ("Meet Me in St. Gallen" and "Day After Valentines). Approximately 83 feature films have been released during the 9 months of 2018. however some entries from local indie film festivals such as To-Farm and Cinemalaya have yet to be released for commercial run due to difficulty in securing theatrical booking.

KATHNIEL MOVIE "THE HOWS OF US" IS A MONSTER HIT

"THE HOWS OF US" BREAKS ALL BOX-OFFICE RECORDS

The movie posted the highest 5-day gross for a local film at Php 276.5M and the highest weekend gross of all time and on Sunday alone "The House of Us" grossed a staggering 82M according to a press release issued by Star Cinema.

The latest Kathniel movie is a monster hit and is expected to hit Php 200M over the weekend. The first screening (1:30 pm) at Cinema 3 (Saturday 01-Sep) in Mega Mall was full house considering that it was also showing simultaneously in 2 other theaters in the same mall.  The movie which is now showing in 403 theaters nationwide also stars teen pop idol Darren Espanto  There are also scheduled screenings in the US, Guam and the Gulf countries.

But some people find the movie a bit melodramatic and at times boring.  There were many scenes that we find a bit shallow.  How could George (played by Kathryn) live alone in an unsafe place like Metro Manila? The "partition drama-comedy" between Primo and George is just too corny and childish.   As the story says Primo (played by Daniel) and Kathryn separated for about 7 years but nothing has really changed with their looks and appearance. They look too young for their first mature roles.  Primo is a member of a struggling band but not a single scene shows them performing or at least rehearsing a song.  Director Cathy Garcia Molina could have done better.  

Meanwhile, “Miss Granny,” the Philippine adaptation of the hit South Korean film about a grandmother who regains her youthful appearance, has earned P85M million since it opened in cinemas on August 22. The Sarah Geronimo starrer reportedly grossed only Php 7.8M on its opening day but ticket sales catch up during it's weekend run (Sunday gross 26-Aug - 21M) but  unfortunately the Kathniel movie crushed Miss Granny's potential high gross when "The Hows of Us" opened a few days ago with a staggering opening day gross of P35,938622.

Kris Aquino has a cameo role in "Crazy Rich Asians" which reportedly grossed Php 107M during its first week run.  Aquino's bashers belittles her 3 minute appearance in the movie after all the hype she made during the pre-production. She's not even included in the movie's poster and trailer but nonetheless she made a remarkable presence in the movie as Princess Intan (which means "diamond" in Bahasa Indonesia and Philipine Tausug dialect).