‘Ocean’s 8’ steals top weekend spot
“Ocean’s 8,” the female-fronted overhaul of the starry heist franchise, opened with an estimated $41.5 million at the box office, taking the weekend’s top spot from the fastfalling “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”
At a lower price point and in less fanboy-guarded franchise, “Ocean’s 8” — despite ho-hum reviews — found nothing like the stormy reception that the female-led “Ghostbusters” reboot did on the same weekend two years ago.
Made for about $70 million, “Ocean’s 8” and its stars — Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway — set an opening-weekend best for the franchise, not accounting for inflation.
The three previous “Ocean’s” films — starring Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Matt Damon, and based on the 1960 original “Ocean’s 11,” with Frank Sinatra — all debuted with from $36 million to $39 million in the past decade.
“Ocean’s 8,” also starring Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter, drew a largely female audience — 69 percent — for a result that slightly surpassed expectations.
The horror thriller “Hereditary,” starring Toni Collette, debuted with $13 million, setting a new company record for A24, the indie distributor behind “The Witch” and “Moonlight.”
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Final domestic figures will be released today.
1. “Ocean’s 8”: $41.5 million 2. “Solo: A Star Wars Story”: $15.2 million 3. “Deadpool 2”: $13.7 million 4. “Hereditary”: $13 million 5. “Avengers: Infinity War”: $6.8 million 6. “Adrift”: $5.1 million 7. “Book Club”: $4.2 million 8. “Hotel Artemis”: $3.2 million 9. “Upgrade”: $2.2 million 10. “Life of the Party”: $2.1 million