'Cars 3' speeds to No. 1, Tupac biopic nets strong debut
- by Arlene Howard
- in Global Media
- — Jun 19, 2017
"Cars 3" earned 21.3 million US dollars internationally, and the combined total income is 74.8 million USA dollars, according to studio figures collected by comScore.
Entertainment Studios' shark thriller 47 Meters Down and Sony's Scarlett Johansson-led comedy Rough Night also debuted this weekend.
Released through Lionsgate, the movie was the number two ticket seller behind "Cars 2" on Fandango Thursday and Friday and then went and outgrossed "Wonder Woman" on Friday with $12.8 million (including $3.1 million in Thursday preview screenings) versus $10.8 million for the comic book icon. That won't concern Disney much, as this franchise has made billions for the studio in merchandising revenue and will continue to do so with this solid opening and the addition of new characters Jackson Storm and Cruz Ramirez alongside series protagonist Lightning McQueen. The R-rated Tupac Shakur biopic earned an estimated $27.1 million from 2,471 locations.
So, despite its 24% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences flocked to see actor Demetrius Shipp Jr.'s on-the-nose performance of Tupac and the rapper's numerous featured tracks in the movie.
In fourth is Universal's "The Mummy" with $13.9 million in its second frame, down 56 percent from its $31.6 million opening. Overseas, the film has banked a far better $239 million so far. Just over half of critics positively reviewed the movie, about a bachelorette party gone awry. Entertainment Studios' shark tale "47 Meters Down" finished fifth with an estimated 11.5 million USA dollars in its debut weekend. The film scored more favorably with its target demographic of families. The film sees Naomi Watts star as the single mother of two sons, Henry (Jaeden Lieberher) and Peter (Jacob Tremblay), the oldest of whom attempts to rescue the girl next door from her abusive stepfather. The film follows their relationship as it chronicles Maud's burgeoning career.
Benny Boom's biography for Lionsgate could over-perform at No. 2 in the charts ... er, box office ... this week after its impressive $3.1 million pull on Thursday night.
Tupac rises and saves the box office - not a headline one might to expect to read in column about box office.
