'The Equalizer' Beats 'Mamma Mia' at the Weekend Box Office
by EG
Moviegoers had plenty of not-new movies to choose from this weekend, as the three biggest wide releases were all sequels. In the end, it was Denzel Washington's action sequel that came out on top, edging out Meryl Streep's musical romance sequel. Read on for details about the box-office race.
In a summer box-office upset, Sony's R-rated The Equalizer 2 came in ahead of expectations to top the star-studded Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again with an estimated $35.8 million launch in North America.
Mamma Mia 2 grossed an estimated $34.4 million. The numbers could shift when final weekend earnings are tallied on Monday. Overseas, the sequel debuted to $42.4 million, from its first 43 markets, for a global bow of $76.8 million. The U.K. led with $13.1 million.
The female-fueled Mamma Mia 2 is by no means a disappointment in North America and opened in line with expectations. As it turned out, Equalizer 2 beat projections, thanks to an ethnically diverse audience and keen interest among men. (Rival studios show the movie coming in closer to $35 million, but Sony is counting on a strong Sunday.) Internationally, the pic only debuted in 11 markets, earning $3.3 million.
Equalizer 2 is the first sequel of Washington's career. The original film was a sleeper hit in fall 2014 after opening to $34.1 million domestically. The budding franchise — both pics were directed by Antoine Fuqua — follows the exploits of an ex-government operative drawn back into action. This time out, Washington's character is determined to exact revenge for the death of a friend. Males made up around 60 percent of ticket buyers.
"This opening speaks to the star power of Denzel Washington. And you can't go wrong with the combination of Denzel and Antoine Fuqua," says Sony distribution chief Adrian Smith, noting that the film marks Fuqua's highest domestic opening. The exec also believes there is room for both Equalizer 2 and another male-fueled action pic opening next weekend, Mission: Impossible — Fallout.
Get the rest of the story at The Hollywood Reporter.
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