'Equalizer 3' tops N.America box office in big summer finale / Photo: Ethan Miller - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
-
England 'flat' as Crawley admits Australia a better side
-
Australia four wickets from Ashes glory as England cling on
-
Beetles block mining of Europe's biggest rare earths deposit
-
French culture boss accused of mass drinks spiking to humiliate women
-
Burning effigy, bamboo crafts at once-a-decade Hong Kong festival
-
Joshua knocks out Paul to win Netflix boxing bout
-
Dogged Hodge ton sees West Indies save follow-on against New Zealand
-
England dig in as they chase a record 435 to keep Ashes alive
-
Wembanyama 26-point bench cameo takes Spurs to Hawks win
-
Hodge edges towards century as West Indies 310-4, trail by 265
-
US Afghans in limbo after Washington soldier attack
-
England lose Duckett in chase of record 435 to keep Ashes alive
-
Australia all out for 349, set England 435 to win 3rd Ashes Test
-
US strikes over 70 IS targets in Syria after attack on troops
-
Australian lifeguards fall silent for Bondi Beach victims
-
Trump's name added to Kennedy Center facade, a day after change
-
West Indies 206-2, trail by 369, after Duffy's double strike
-
US strikes Islamic State group in Syria after deadly attack on troops
-
Epstein files opened: famous faces, many blacked-out pages
-
Ravens face 'special' Patriots clash as playoffs come into focus
-
Newly released Epstein files: what we know
-
Musk wins US court appeal of $56 bn Tesla pay package
-
US judge voids murder conviction in Jam Master Jay killing
-
Trump doesn't rule out war with Venezuela
-
Haller, Aouar out of AFCON, Zambia coach drama
-
Nasdaq rallies again while yen falls despite BOJ rate hike
-
Bologna win shoot-out with Inter to reach Italian Super Cup final
-
Brandt and Beier send Dortmund second in Bundesliga
-
Trump administration begins release of Epstein files
-
UN Security Council votes to extend DR Congo mission by one year
-
Family of Angels pitcher, club settle case over 2019 death
-
US university killer's mystery motive sought after suicide
-
Rubio says won't force deal on Ukraine as Europeans join Miami talks
-
Burkinabe teen behind viral French 'coup' video has no regrets
-
Brazil court rejects new Bolsonaro appeal against coup conviction
-
Three-time Grand Slam winner Wawrinka to retire in 2026
-
Man Utd can fight for Premier League title in next few years: Amorim
-
Pandya blitz powers India to T20 series win over South Africa
-
Misinformation complicated Brown University shooting probe: police
-
IMF approves $206 mn aid to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah
-
Stocks advance as markets cheer weak inflation
-
Emery says rising expectations driving red-hot Villa
-
Three killed in Taipei metro attacks, suspect dead
-
Seven Colombian soldiers killed in guerrilla attack: army
-
Amorim takes aim at Man Utd youth stars over 'entitlement'
-
Mercosur meets in Brazil, EU eyes January 12 trade deal
-
US Fed official says no urgency to cut rates, flags distorted data
-
Rome to charge visitors for access to Trevi Fountain
-
Spurs 'not a quick fix' for under-fire Frank
-
Poland president accuses Ukraine of not appreciating war support
NYSE - LSE
'Equalizer 3' tops N.America box office in big summer finale
Sony's "The Equalizer 3," starring fan favorite Denzel Washington, helped boost the North American box office to a post-pandemic high over the long holiday weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
The vigilante action film, which closes out the "Equalizer" trilogy, took in an estimated $34.5 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period and $42 million when the forecast for Monday -- Labor Day in the US and Canada -- is included.
The film, also starring Dakota Fanning, again has Washington playing a retired US Marine and drug-enforcement agent, this time taking on a gang in southern Italy.
That phenomenon of pinkness known as "Barbie" easily held on to the second spot for the weekend, with estimated totals of $10.6 million for three days and $13.3 million for four. The Warner Bros. film now has $612 million in total domestic earnings, only the 14th movie ever to pass the $600 million mark.
In third place for the second straight weekend was DC's superhero flick "Blue Beetle," at $7.3 million for three days and $6.5 million for four. Xolo Mariduena plays the Beetle.
Viewers hit the brakes, however, on Sony's "Gran Turismo," as last weekend's top film dropped to fourth with estimated ticket sales of $6.6 million for three days and $8.5 million for four. David Harbour and Orlando Bloom star in the movie about video gamers training to race real cars.
And like "Barbie," the movie to which it became fortuitously hitched in viewers' minds, "Oppenheimer," managed a strong showing in its seventh weekend out. Christopher Nolan's atom bomb origin story placed fifth at $5.5 million and $7.5 million.
Overall, this weekend's numbers were enough to push the domestic summer box office past $4 billion, a first in the post-pandemic era and a big jump from last summer's $3.4 billion, trade publications reported.
"That’s a fantastic result and another positive step for the industry," said analyst David A. Gross.
Rounding out the weekend's top 10 films were:
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" ($4.8 million for three days; $6.3 million for four)
"Bottoms" ($3 million; $3.6 million)
"Meg 2: The Trench" ($2.9 million; $3.7 million)
"Strays" ($2.5 million; $3.3 million)
"Talk to Me" ($1.8 million; $2.2 million)
Y.Kobayashi--AMWN
