[ By DAN DEMING ]

[ ENTERTAINMENT CONTRIBUTOR ]

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Much to my surprise, the sophisticated story of “Downton Abbey” topped last week’s box office, bringing in more than $31 million in ticket sales. “Rambo: Last Blood,” which I thought would do much better, even though five of these movies is far more than enough, came in a distant third with $18.8 million. You’ll have another opportunity to see both this weekend at Hutchinson’s B&B Theatres.

Also carried over is last week’s No. 2 film, “Ad Astra,” which barely bested Rambo and is a space thriller starring Brad Pitt in one of his better roles along with Tommy Lee Jones and Donald Sutherland. “Ad Astra” is about the son of a man who went into deep space 30 years ago on a secret mission and never returned. His son, Pitt, embarks on a mission to Neptune (one of our planets for those of you not recently schooled by today’s science education) to learn what happened and save us from a mysterious, threatening force.

Some say “Ad Astra” gets space travel, science and life wrong, and overplays the psychological stress on those in space. You can be the judge by taking in “Ad Astra” at the Hutchinson Mall.

New this weekend for family fun is “Abominable,” an animated offering that kids, their parents and grandparents may enjoy. Other carryovers include “It Chapter Two” and my choice for the year’s most over-hyped flick, “Hustlers,” which is a hard R-rated film that most would be ashamed to be in when the rapture takes place.

 

“Movie news you can use” is a weekly feature submitted by Dan Deming. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of Hutch Post or its affiliates.