THE BIG PICTURE
‘The Equalizer 3’ burst onto the scene with an impressive $34 million during its opening weekend, mirroring the financial success of its earlier franchise counterparts. The latest installment has garnered upbeat reviews and a strong audience rating, pointing towards its potential longevity amid a crowded autumn movie roster. Meanwhile, Barbie secures its spot as the highest-earning film of the year, bypassing the $600 million mark domestically, as Blue Beetle and Gran Turismo duke it out for third place.
Denying rumors of his diminishing stardom, Denzel Washington continues to be a silent but potent force in Hollywood, thanks to the Equalizer series. Over a ten-year span, the franchise has unwaveringly chalked up solid box office numbers, largely propelled by Washington’s enduring allure. The newest addition, ‘The Equalizer 3,’ didn’t just meet expectations—it crushed them with an initial $34 million haul. This figure is set to inflate to an approximate $43 million across the extended Labor Day weekend, landing it the title of second-largest Labor Day opening ever, just falling short of ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.’
Consistency is the name of the game for the Equalizer movies, as the latest entry raked in almost the same opening weekend revenue as the first two films, released in 2014 and 2018. Director Antoine Fuqua, a frequent Washington collaborator since their ‘Training Day’ days (which snagged Washington his second Oscar), helmed all three. The inaugural Equalizer flick rounded out its U.S. box office journey with a little more than $100 million and fetched $192 million globally. Its sequel clocked in at $102 million in domestic earnings and $190 million on the worldwide stage.
Not to be outdone, the third film arguably boasts the most glowing critiques in the franchise, flaunting a “fresh” 76% on Rotten Tomatoes. A favorable A CinemaScore from its premiere-day crowd suggests it’s in for a lucrative run, particularly as the cinematic landscape enters a less competitive autumn season. Nate Richard from FilmSweep lauded the movie as a “gleefully violent final installment.”
A Parade of Strong Contenders Dominates the Top 5
Retaining its silver medal standing for another weekend, Barbie roped in about $10 million over the standard three-day stretch and is on track to add $13 million during the extended weekend. The film shattered the $600 million barrier domestically on Friday and eclipsed ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s lifetime earnings of $1.35 billion, becoming the juggernaut of the year. And don’t expect it to hit the brakes soon, especially with an upcoming IMAX unveiling to offset its PVOD premiere later this month.
Blue Beetle and Gran Turismo are locked in a neck-and-neck contest for third place, with Blue Beetle narrowly gaining the upper hand. Currently in its third weekend, the superhero film is on pace to net an additional $6.6 million, elevating its total earnings to over $55 million. Gran Turismo aims for a $6.5 million weekend and approximately $8.4 million through the holiday. Though the film is projected to reach $30 million domestically by Monday, it’s still a rather tepid performance considering its relatively modest $60 million production budget.
Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ rounds off the top five and recently snagged the title of second-biggest R-rated film ever. The biographical thriller aims to bank around $5.3 million this weekend and nearly $7 million over the extended holiday, bringing its cumulative domestic earnings to just shy of $310 million. On the global scale, it has overtaken ‘Inception’ to claim the spot as Nolan’s third most lucrative release, lagging only behind ‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘The Dark Knight Rises.’ Keep your eyes peeled on FilmSweep for further updates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about ‘The Equalizer 3’ Box Office Performance
What is the main highlight of ‘The Equalizer 3’ in terms of its box office performance?
The main highlight is that ‘The Equalizer 3’ had the second-largest Labor Day opening in U.S. box office history. The film grossed an impressive $34 million in its opening weekend and is projected to make around $43 million across the extended Labor Day weekend.
Who directed ‘The Equalizer 3’ and what is notable about this collaboration?
Antoine Fuqua directed ‘The Equalizer 3,’ continuing his long-standing collaboration with Denzel Washington. They previously worked together on ‘Training Day,’ which won Washington his second Oscar.
How did ‘Barbie’ perform at the box office in comparison to ‘The Equalizer 3’?
Barbie remained in second place at the box office, adding around $10 million over the standard three-day weekend. However, it has surpassed the $600 million mark domestically, making it the year’s highest-grossing film so far.
What films are competing for the third spot in the box office rankings?
The superhero film Blue Beetle and the video game adaptation Gran Turismo are in a tight race for the third spot. Blue Beetle is slightly ahead, with both films looking to add around $6.5–$6.6 million to their tallies over the weekend.
How has Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ performed, and what record did it break?
‘Oppenheimer’ rounded off the top five and recently became the second-biggest R-rated movie in history. It is aiming to add around $5.3 million this weekend, bringing its total domestic earnings to just under $310 million.
How have the reviews been for ‘The Equalizer 3’?
The film has received arguably the best reviews of the franchise, with a “fresh” 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It also earned a favorable A CinemaScore, suggesting strong audience approval.
Is ‘The Equalizer 3’ expected to be the last installment in the series?
The article suggests that ‘The Equalizer 3’ is supposedly the final installment in the series, although this has not been officially confirmed.
What is unique about the earnings of the Equalizer franchise films?
The earnings have been remarkably consistent. The first and second films made just over $100 million and $102 million domestically, and the third installment is on track to perform similarly.
What can we expect from the box office in the coming fall season?
The article suggests that ‘The Equalizer 3’ could have a strong run due to its positive reviews and audience scores, especially as the movie landscape enters a less competitive fall season.
More about ‘The Equalizer 3’ Box Office Performance
- The Equalizer Franchise Overview
- Rotten Tomatoes Score for The Equalizer 3
- CinemaScore’s Audience Ratings
- Box Office Data for Barbie
- Blue Beetle vs. Gran Turismo Weekend Performance
- Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer Box Office Stats
- FilmSweep Reviews
- Denzel Washington’s Career Highlights
- Antoine Fuqua’s Filmography
10 comments
Blue Beetle and Gran Turismo battling for 3rd is kinda cute. But let’s be honest, neither are gonna be classics.
Looks like Equalizer 3 is gonna own the fall season. The reviews and audience scores are promising for its long run.
Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington are like the Scorsese and De Niro of action films. keep killin it guys!
Dang, Denzel’s still got it, huh? Equalizer 3 smashing it at the box office just proves the man’s a living legend. no cap!
Barbie and Oppenheimer are the real surprises here. Who woulda thought a doll and a scientist would dominate the box office? What a time to be alive!
Oppenheimer becoming the second-biggest R-rated movie?? Nolan’s a genius and all, but who knew a biopic would make such waves. Mind blown!
Gran Turismo, buddy, what happened? With a 60 million budget, I was expecting…more? Lol.
76% on Rotten Tomatoes for Equalizer 3? not bad, not bad at all. Seems like this one’s a crowd pleaser.
Wow, Barbie giving a tough fight to action and superhero flicks? Girl power all the way! But still can’t believe it beat Super Mario Bros.
gotta say, I’m impressed with how consistent the Equalizer series has been. Fuqua and Washington are a dream team for real.