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'A Dog's Purpose' Debut Stifled By Controversy

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This box office weekend may have flown under the radar a bit, but nothing about this week's top film is low-key.

"Split," the hellish tale of an abductor with split personalities, kept the No. 1 spot in its second weekend with more than $26 million domestically. That brings the film's domestic total to almost $78 million since it opened Jan. 20. So far, the film is well-reviewed.

In the No. 2 spot is a feel-good tale — with tails.

"A Dog's Purpose"pulled in over $18 million, the highest-grossing newcomer — though not a particularly impressive opening weekend.

The film has been mired in controversy after TMZ published a video showing a dog being coaxed into rushing water for a scene. Filmmakers said dogs were never mistreated on set and that the clip was edited to make it look like the dog was in more danger than it really was.

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Universal Pictures canceled the film's red carpet premiere and scheduled press tour, but the damage to the movie's bottom line may have already been done — that $18 million figure is $7 million below box office estimates.

In the No. 3 spot for the weekend, "Hidden Figures," which grossed $14 million. That's just part of the film's $104 million domestic total — a nice number for a movie that cost less than a quarter that amount to make.

Next week, look out for that girl who keeps crawling out of people's TV screens in "Rings."


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