It’s a space race at the box office
The true story of NASA’s forgotten heroines is close behind ‘Rogue One.’
“Hidden Figures” strongly challenges “Rogue One” for weekend supremacy.
The new movie “Hidden Figures” tells the uplifting true story of a trio of women who defied expectations as they helped the U.S. space program.
Now the tale is also beating the odds at the box office.
The Oscar hopeful surpassed industry projections in its wide-release debut this weekend, collecting $21.8 million in ticket sales Friday through Sunday in the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates. If Sunday estimates hold, “Hidden Figures” will nab a close second-place finish behind “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” at the domestic box office this weekend, beating fellow newcomer “Underworld: Blood Wars.”
The strong debut for “Hidden Figures,” which follows a team of black, female mathematicians and engineers who provide key data for NASA missions during the space race, topped prerelease studio projections of about $17 million, despite snowstorms in much of the country. Produced by Chernin Entertainment and 20th Century Fox, “Hidden Figures” was made on a modest budget of $25 million.
“Hidden Figures” had already built up goodwill with audiences during its limited release, pulling in nearly $3 million from just 25 theaters. The film stars Octavia Spencer (“The Help”), Taraji P. Henson (“Empire”) and Janelle Monae (“Moonlight”). It also features turns by Kevin Costner and Kirsten Dunst, plus songs by Pharrell Williams.
The movie seems to be resonating with moviegoers, having earned a rare A-plus rating from exit-polling firm CinemaScore — another positive omen for the film’s commercial prospects.
“There’s an intense wantto-see for this film,” said Chris Aronson, head of domestic distribution for 20th Century Fox. “This is an all-audience, multi-generational movie that has enthralled audiences and will for some time to come. It truly is a movie for everyone.”
“Rogue One” had the slight edge on “Hidden Figures,” scoring its fourth consecutive No. 1 weekend with nearly $22 million in the U.S. and Canada Friday through Sunday. Estimates could change Monday, so “Hidden Figures” still has a chance to come out ahead.
The latest blockbuster in Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars” franchise has now grossed $477 million in the domestic marketplace, meaning it will soon pass Disney’s “Finding Dory” as the highest-grossing film of 2016. Its worldwide tally stands at $914 million.
Notably, “Rogue One” opened in Chinese theaters on Friday, and has grossed $31 million there so far. Although that’s a big number, and good enough to place it at No. 1 in the key market, it’s 39% less than the opening weekend for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
In third place domestically was “Sing,” the cartoon animal musical from Universal Pictures and its inhouse animation partner Illumination Entertainment. The movie danced its way to $19.6 million in the U.S. and Canada in its third weekend in theaters, bringing its domestic total to $213 million. It cost $75 million to make.
Meanwhile, horror-action sequel “Underworld: Blood Wars” came in shy of industry expectations, grossing $13.1 million domestically and landing at No. 4. Starring franchise stalwart Kate Beckinsale, “Blood Wars” is the fifth film in the series about a centurieslong conflict between vampires and werewolves.
“La La Land,” Lionsgate’s awards season favorite, continued to pick up the tempo as the Emma StoneRyan Gosling musical expanded on Golden Globes weekend to 1,500 theaters. The critical darling, directed by Damien Chazelle, earned $10 million, taking a fifthplace finish. The box-office haul for “La La Land” has now reached $51.6 million.