All hail Viola Davis and The Woman King! Sony’s action spectacle starring the Academy Award-winning actress took in an impressive $19 million from 3,765 theaters, kicking awake a dormant box office that had generated little excitement over the past few weeks. Per Deadline, the pic also earned a rare A+ CinemaScore and could possibly reach higher numbers if Sunday’s turnout proves lucrative. Rave reviews propelled this mid-September release from director Gina Prince-Bythewood, which also stars Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, and John Boyega.
RELATED: The Woman King Review: A Decent Historical Epic
20th Century Studios’ Barbarian came in second with a 3-day $6.3 million haul (-40%), lifting its domestic total to $20.9M, while newcomers Pearl and See How They Run accrued $3.12M and $3.1M, respectively.
Another worthwhile bit of news is that Minions: Rise of Gru is very close to beating Despicable Me 2’s $368 million domestic total to claim the top spot in the Minions/Despicable Me franchise.
Domestic Top 10 Box Office Results
1.) The Woman King (Sony) 3,765 theaters Fri $6.8M, Sat $7.15M, Sun $5M, 3-day $19M/Wk 1
2.) Barbarian (20th/Dis) 2,340 theaters, Fri $1.96M (-48%), $2.7M, Sun $1.6M 3-day $6.3M (-40%)/Total $20.9M/Wk 2
3.) Pearl (A24) 2,935 theaters, Fri $1.3M, Sat $1M, Sun $803K, 3-day $3.124M/Wk 1
4.) See How They Run (Sea) 2,404 theaters, Fri $1.08M/Sat $1.16M, Sun $854K, 3-day $3.1M/Wk 1
5.) Bullet Train (Sony) 2,602 (-454) theaters, Fri $720K, Sat $1.1M, Sun $655K 3-day $2.5M (-24%)/, Total $96.3M/Wk 7
6.) Top Gun: Maverick (Par) 2,604 (-401) theaters, Fri $630K (-25%), Sat $1M, Sun $550K 3-day $2.18M (-31%), Total $709M/Wk 17
7.) DC League of Super-Pets (WB) 2,756 (-287) theaters, Fri $440K (-11%) Sat $1.02M, Sun $715K, 3-day $2.175M (-18%)/Total $87.8M Wk 8
8.) The Invitation (Sony) 2,425 (-692) theaters, Fri $485K, Sat $775K Sun $440K 3-day $1.7M (-36%)/Total $21.4M/Wk 2
9.) Minions: Rise of Gru (Uni) 1,970 theaters (-304), Fri $260K (-21%), Sat $640K, Sun $420K, 3-day $1.32M (-24%), Total: $364.1M/Wk 12
10.) Moonage Dream (NEON) 170 theaters, Fri $592K, Sat $373K, Sun $260K, PTA $7,2k/3-day $1.22M/Wk 1
