‘Equalizer 3’ rakes in $42 million, boosts summer domestic revenue over $4 billion in post-pandemic first. Details here
Sony's "Equalizer 3," directed by Antonie Fuqua and starring Denzel Washington, has given a much-needed lift to the summer box office by opening with an estimated $42 million over four days. This achievement marks the first time the domestic summer box office has crossed the $4 billion mark in the post-pandemic era.
It's the second-largest Labor Day opening after Marvel's «Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,» which earned $94.7 million last year.
Normally, Labor Day isn't known for big movie releases, but «Shang-Chi» broke that tradition in 2021 as the industry grappled with pandemic challenges.
The industry reached the $4 billion milestone, providing a win for studios and theater owners. By the end of the Labor Day weekend, the 2023 summer box office is expected to reach nearly $4.1 billion, a 19 per cent increase from 2022 but still lagging behind 2019 by 5.7 per cent.
«Equalizer 3» is set to become the highest-grossing film in the series when final weekend numbers are tallied, surpassing the first two installments, which opened with $34.1 million and $36 million, respectively (unadjusted for inflation).
Internationally, the film earned an impressive $26.1 million from its initial markets.
In other box office news, «Barbie» remains at No.
2, crossing the $600 million domestic mark and becoming the top-grossing film of 2023 with $1.38 billion worldwide. «Blue Beetle» is expected to secure the third spot with an estimated four-day gross of $9 million to $10 million, and «Gran Turismo: Based on A True Story» is sliding with an estimated four-day haul of $8.5 million.
«Oppenheimer» continues its success, clearing $850 million globally, making it Christopher Nolan's third-largest film ever.
