Propelled by the popularity of Paula Hawkins' best-seller, the fast-tracked big-screen adaptation of "The Girl on the Train" led North American theaters in ticket sales with $24.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. Less successful was Nate Parker's Nat Turner biopic "The Birth of a Nation," which moviegoers largely greeted with a shrug after a 17-year-old rape allegation resurfaced against its star and director.
"The Girl on the Train," a psychological thriller starring Emily Blunt, appealed significantly to female moviegoers, who made up 68 percent of the audience, according to the film's distributer, Universal Pictures. The film, directed by Tate Taylor ("The Help"), is about an alcoholic suburbanite woman who becomes embroiled in a mysterious disappearance.
Released just last year, Hawkins' novel went from best-seller lists to the top of the box office in short order. DreamWorks acquired film rights to the book ahead of its publication. While reviews for the film were weak, Blunt's lead performance was largely praised.
Nick Carpou, president of domestic distribution for Universal, credited the film's success with the alliance of Universal and Steven Spielberg's Amblin Partners. Carpou said the film's box office was largely unaffected by Hurricane Matthew.
But perhaps the most closely watched opening was Fox Searchlight's "The Birth of a Nation." Playing in 2,105 theaters, the film opened with a disappointing $7.1 million.
The movie fetched a record $17.5 million at its much-lauded Sundance Film Festival premiere, where it was hailed as an Oscar contender and an answer to the then-boiling "OscarsSoWhite" backlash. But Parker became enveloped in a rape allegation from his past, when he was a sophomore at Penn State. Parker, who has maintained his innocence, was acquitted in 2001. The alleged victim killed herself in 2012.
As the controversy continued through the summer and fall (Parker appeared on "60 Minutes" last weekend), Fox Searchlight worked in vain to direct focus back toward Parker's movie. On opening night Thursday, protesters held a silent vigil for victims of rape and sexual assault outside a Los Angeles theater.
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for comScore, was hesitant to say how large a role the controversy played in the film's performance.
"It's hard to know, but considering the initial promise of the movie and all the positive talk about the film and its Oscar prospects, you would have figured that it would do more business," Dergarabedian said. "Now it's in the marketplace where the audience can decide how they feel about the movie."
Also opening in wide release was the CBS Films and Lionsgate release "Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life," based on the James Patterson books about a teenager who terrorizes his principal with pranks. It debuted with $6.9 million.
Last week's top film, Tim Burton's "Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children," slid to second place with $15 million in its second week for 20th Century Fox. The Lionsgate real-life disaster film "Deepwater Horizon" took in $11.8 million in its second week.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "The Girl on the Train," $24.7 million ($16.5 million international).
2. "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children," $15 million ($42.5 million international).
3. "Deepwater Horizon," $11.8 million ($10.6 million international).
4. "The Magnificent Seven," $9.2 million ($6.9 million international).
5. "Storks," $8.5 million ($9.7 million international).
6. "The Birth of a Nation," $7.1 million.
7. "Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life," $6.9 million.
8. "Sully," $5.3 million ($3.2 million international).
9. "Masterminds," $4.1 million.
10. "Queen of Katwe," $1.6 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:
1. "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children," $42.5 million.
2. "Operation Mekong," $26.5 million.
3. "The Girl on the Train" $16.5 million.
4. "I Belong to You," $12.2 million.
5. "Bridget Jones's Baby," $11.3 million.
6. "Deepwater Horizon," $10.6 million.
7. "Storks," $9.7 million.
8. "The Secret Life of Pets," $9.1 million.
9. "Finding Dory," $8.9 million.
10. "Don't Breathe," $7.6 million.
