Register

    “The Equalizer” Tops Weekend Box Office With $35M Debut

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments2160 Views
    In this image released by Columbia Pictures, Denzel Washington appears in a scene from the film, "The Equalizer." (AP Photo/Sony, Columbia Pictures, Scott Garfield)

    By Jake Coyle, Film Writer

    NEW YORK (AP) --

    Flexing his star power, Denzel Washington led the thriller "The Equalizer" to a $35 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday.

    The Sony-Columbia Pictures release dominated the weekend box office, surpassing some expectations for the film. Washington plays a former commando living a quiet life in Boston when the disappearance of a prostitute acquaintance (Chloe Grace Moretz) lures him into a battle with the Russian mafia.

    The strong opening marks the third-best debut in Washington's career, trailing only 2012's "Safe House" ($40.1 million) and 2007's "American Gangster" ($43.6 million). Washington, who will turn 60 in December, has been one of Hollywood's most reliable draws without the benefit of anything like a superhero franchise.

    "He's the very model of box-office consistency," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box-office tracker Rentrak. "I can't think of another star that's this consistent, that remains this rock solid over the course of three decades."

    "The Equalizer" reteams Washington with director Antoine Fuqua," who helmed 2001's "Training Day." That film memorably earned Washington an Oscar for best actor. A sequel to "The Equalizer," which is loosely based on the '80s CBS series, is already in development.

    "We feel like we have a real opportunity with a sequel and a possible franchise with this film," said Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony.

    Last weekend's top performer, the young-adult novel adaptation "The Maze Runner," starring Dylan O'Brien, slid to second with $17.5 million in its second week. The 20th Century Fox release also has a sequel in the works, due out next September

    The stop-motion animated release "The Boxtrolls" opened in third place with $17.3 million. It's the best opening yet for Laika, the Oregon-based animation studio whose previous films are the Oscar-nominated "Coraline" and "ParaNorman."

    Critics have been less enthusiastic about "The Boxtrolls," about a boy who's raised by nocturnal, box-wearing critters beneath the British village of Cheesebridge. But the Focus Features release capitalized on the relative dearth of family-friendly options in theaters over recent months.

    Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak. Where available, the latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

    1. "The Equalizer," $35 million ($17.8 million international).

    2. "The Maze Runner," $17.5 million ($27.5 million international).

    3. "The Boxtrolls," $17.2 million ($5.1 million international).

    4. "This Is Where I Leave You," $7 million.

    5. "Dolphin Tale 2," $4.8 million.

    6. "No Good Deed," $4.6 million.

    7. "A Walk Among the Tombstones," $4.2 million ($2.1 million international).

    8. "Guardians of the Galaxy," $3.8 million ($4 million international).

    9. "Let's Be Cops," $1.5 million ($1 million international).

    10. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," $1.5 million ($3.9 million international).

    ___

    Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Rentrak:

    1. "The Maze Runner," $27.5 million.

    2. "The Equalizer," $17.8 million.

    3. "Dearest," $13.5 million.

    4. "Lucy," $11.1 million.

    5. (tie) "The Boxtrolls," $5.1 million.

    5. (tie) "Sex Tape," $5.1 million.

    7. "Guardians of the Galaxy," $4 million.

    8. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," $3.9 million.

    9. "Into the Storm," $3.4 million.

    10. "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," $3.4 million.

    Category:News
    Tags:Antoine Fuquabox officeThe Equalizer



    Hwang Dong-hyuk On Season 2 of “Squid Game,” Wrapping Production on Season 3; What’s Next?

    Thursday, December 26, 2024

    Viewers may gasp, cringe or cry out watching characters die on Netflix's "Squid Game," but those simulated deaths have a different effect on its creator, writer and director. Instead, Hwang Dong-hyuk feels happiness seeing them go.

    The show has a huge cast and Hwang says it was "really difficult" to manage everyone on set.

    As characters would die, Hwang recalls saying to the actors on their last day, "'Oh no! How sad! I won't see you tomorrow,' but I was always smiling inside."

    "Squid Game" season two premieres Thursday. It once again stars Lee Jung-jae and centers around a secret competition in South Korea that targets people in debt and the winner gets a big cash prize. What they don't know is that losing the game is deadly.

    Hwang originally conceived of the show 15 years ago as a two-hour film but it failed to gain traction with financiers or even interested actors. He put it aside and worked on other films instead. He then had the idea to make it a TV series instead and took the project to Netflix. There, it could reach a wide audience.

    "I never in my wildest dream thought it was going to be this huge," said Hwang, who spoke about the show and what comes next. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.

    Q: What have you learned from "Squid Game"?

    HWANG: I learned that I shouldn't give up. If you love something and if you want to create something, it might not work now, but the time might come later. Or that idea could be the source of inspiration for something else.

    Q: You've already finished filming season three of "Squid Game." Have you thought about what your next project will be?

    HWANG: I'm afraid to talk... Read More

    MySHOOT Profiles


    Add A Comment