The third instalment of the Denzel Washington-led “Equalizer” franchise dominated the domestic box office over the weekend. Equalizer 3 earned an estimated $34.5 million, according to studio reports on Sunday. By the end of the Labor Day holiday, Sony expects the total to reach $42 million.
The Labor Day weekend marks the conclusion of Hollywood’s summer movie season. It is set to surpass $4 billion in ticket sales for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. This success can be largely attributed to films like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” which continue to break records even after seven weeks in theatres. Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” officially became the highest-grossing movie of 2023. Surpassing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” with global earnings exceeding $1.36 billion. Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” crossed the $850 million mark worldwide. However, making it the third-highest-grossing film of the year and Nolan’s third-highest-grossing film overall.
Record-Breaking Summer Season
“The Equalizer 3” arrived during a challenging period for Hollywood, with actors engaged in a seven-week strike for fair contracts with major entertainment companies. Additionally, movie theatres are bracing for a somewhat subdued fall season due to the strike’s impact.
The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike prevented Denzel Washington from promoting “Equalizer 3.” It was directed by his frequent collaborator Antoine Fuqua and sees his vigilante character, Robert McCall, in action on Italy’s Amalfi coast. The absence of a major star during the promotional campaign could have been considered a disadvantage for a film’s box office prospects. Meanwhile, “Equalizer 3” benefited from the strength of its recognizable franchise.
“One of the biggest movie stars in the world took us out on a high note,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “Studios often coast to Labor Day, but Sony was smart to choose this weekend to open ‘The Equalizer 3.'”
Sony launched the R-rated “Equalizer 3” in over 3,900 locations across North America. Including IMAX and premium large format screens, mirroring the release strategy of its predecessors. Moreover, both of which grossed over $190 million globally. Co-financed by TSG and Eagle Pictures, the film had a production budget of $70 million. It received generally positive reviews from critics (76% on Rotten Tomatoes) and overwhelmingly positive feedback from audiences. Earning an A on CinemaScore and a five-star PostTrak rating.
Overseas, “Equalizer 3” generated $26.1 million, contributing to a global debut of $60.6 million.
In the second spot, “Barbie” added $10.6 million over the weekend in the U.S. and Canada, bringing its domestic total to $609.5 million. Warner Bros.’s other major theatrical offering, “Blue Beetle,” added $7.3 million for third place. The DC superhero film has accumulated $56.6 million in three weekends in North America. Fourth place went to Sony’s “Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story,” which is projected to earn $6.6 million through Sunday, down 62% from its first-place opening weekend, and $8.5 million including Monday.
“Oppenheimer” secured the fifth position on the domestic charts with an estimated $5.5 million ($7.4 million including estimates for Monday) from 2,543 theatres. This brings its domestic total to $310.3 million and its global earnings to $851 million.