Ocean’s 8 rocks the box office

First it was Ghostbusters, now the Ocean’s franchise has an all-female cast. Here’s more on this fierce and fab glossy posse

ONE is an ex-con, another a suburban mom, yet another a blunt-smoking Rastafarian – and they all form part of the slickest, sassiest, hottest band of female thieves you’ll ever meet. Ocean’s 8 has been described as the ultimate girl-power movie with an irresistible blend of comedy, intrigue and glamour.

It’s also proving to be box-office gold, raking in $41,6 million (R562 million) on its opening weekend in America and toppling Solo: A Star Wars Story off the top spot.

The spinoff from the hit Ocean’s trilogy stars Sandra Bullock as mastermind Debbie Ocean. She’s the ex-felon sister of Danny Ocean, the heist leader played by George Clooney in the three Ocean’s films.

Sandra is propped up by an all-star cast: fellow Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway, along with Helena Bonham Carter, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Awkwafina and Rihanna.

The film is set against the glittering backdrop of the Met Gala, the fashion world’s biggest night. It’s here that Debbie and her posse plan to lift a $150 million (R2 billion) diamond necklace off the neck of a famous Hollywood actress.

Here’s more about the movie of the moment. Ocean’s 11, which starred actors from the group known as the Rat Pack, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr.

In 2001 director Steven Soderbergh remade it as Ocean’s Eleven with George, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and other A-listers. It was such a hit he made two more – Ocean’s Twelve in 2004 and Ocean’s Thirteen in 2007.

The all-female spin-off was the brainchild of director Gary Ross (51), whose credits include The Hunger Games, Pleasantville and Seabiscuit.

“One night I was kicking ideas around with a friend and this idea just jumped into my head,” he says. “I thought it’s weird but there’s never been a female ensemble like this – not where there’s these kickass women going to do something like this.”

He pitched the idea to Steven, who helped him get the ball rolling.

Gary also worked closely with screenwriter Olivia Milch to create the characters.

“I’m passionate about telling stories about women and seeing the range and diversity of all the women out there,” she says.

“Also the way women speak to one another – it’s a language that’s very specific. For example they’re funny on purpose, not because they’re dumb or inebriated.”

Much of the filming took place at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which hosts the annual Met Gala.

Gary had to get permission to film there and called safety meetings to protect the many priceless artworks. “I mean, one false move and you’ve wrecked the budget of the film! Luckily we got out without a calamity.”