The Equalizer 3 Scores Impressive Opening Weekend Box Office Numbers, Becoming Second-Best Labor Day Weekend Debut Ever

Sony/Escape Artists’ “The Equalizer 3” is off to a strong start at the box office, projected to earn between $42 million and $43.5 million in its first four days. This makes it the second-best opening for Labor Day weekend, following the success of “Shang-Chi” in 2021. The film is expected to earn between $35.5 million and $36.5 million in its first three days, which would be a franchise debut best and the best domestic opening for director Antoine Fuqua. The film earned $13.1 million on Friday, including Thursday previews, which has boosted expectations for the weekend.

One notable aspect of “The Equalizer 3” is that it has avoided the trend of diminishing returns often seen in action films. Sony and Escape Artists have carefully developed the franchise and kept marketing costs low, resulting in strong ticket sales. The series is the only film franchise on Denzel Washington’s resume, and it is not just about action-packed scenes but also the intensity of the character Robert McCall, which Washington enjoys playing.

Despite the lack of actor promotions due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, “The Equalizer 3” has still performed well at the box office. However, it is worth considering how much bigger the film’s box office numbers would be without the strike.

Audience reception for the film has been positive, with a 90% positive rating and a 72% recommendation from Comscore/Screen Engine PostTrak exits. The majority of viewers were male, with 55% of the audience being male and 31% being between the ages of 18 and 34. Older moviegoers have also shown interest in the film, with 49% of viewers over the age of 45 and the largest demographic being 55+ at 26%. The film has also attracted a diverse audience, with 33% Caucasian, 31% Black, 20% Latino and Hispanic, and 15% Asian/other. Premium Large Format (PLF) and IMAX screenings have accounted for 38% of the film’s ticket sales so far.

In addition to “The Equalizer 3,” other films have also performed well at the box office. MGM’s “Bottoms” has expanded from ten locations to 715 theaters and is expected to earn around $3.1 million over three days and $3.7 million over four days. The teen LGBTQ+ high school comedy has seen success in major cities such as NYC, LA, San Francisco, DC, Chicago, Austin, and Dallas.

The Telugu film “Kushi” has also shown strong numbers in several cities, including Austin, Dallas, DC, Seattle, NYC, San Francisco, and Atlanta. It is projected to earn around $1.4 million over four days, with $363,000 earned on Saturday.

Overall, the box office for all films is expected to reach around $115.8 million over the four-day weekend, up 63% from last year’s Labor Day weekend but down 17% from 2021 when “Shang-Chi” was released.

“The Equalizer 3” is currently in first place at the box office, followed by “Barbie” in second place with $9.1 million over three days and $12 million over four days. “Blue Beetle” is in third place with $6.4 million over three days and $8.3 million over four days.Sony/Escape Artists’ “The Equalizer 3” is off to a strong start at the box office, projected to earn between $42 million and $43.5 million in its first four days. This makes it the second-best opening for Labor Day weekend, following the success of “Shang-Chi” in 2021. The film is expected to earn between $35.5 million and $36.5 million in its first three days, which would be a franchise debut best and the best domestic opening for director Antoine Fuqua. The film earned $13.1 million on Friday, including Thursday previews, which has boosted weekend forecasts.

One notable aspect of “The Equalizer 3” is that it has avoided the common trend of diminishing returns for action films. Sony and Escape Artists have carefully developed the Denzel Washington-led franchise, resulting in strong ticket sales. The series is the only film franchise on Washington’s resume, and it is known for its intense character, Robert McCall.

Despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, “The Equalizer 3” has managed to achieve impressive box office numbers. While it’s unclear how much bigger the film’s opening would have been without the strike, it is still performing well compared to previous films in the franchise.

Audience reception for “The Equalizer 3” has been positive, with a 90% positive rating and a 72% recommendation from Comscore/Screen Engine PostTrak exits. The majority of viewers were male, with 55% of the audience being male and 31% being between the ages of 18 and 34. Older moviegoers also showed up, with 49% of the audience being over 45 and the largest demographic being 55+ at 26%. The film has also attracted a diverse audience, with 33% Caucasian, 31% Black, 20% Latino and Hispanic, and 15% Asian/other. Premium Large Format (PLF) and IMAX screenings accounted for 38% of the film’s ticket sales so far.

In other box office news, MGM’s “Bottoms” has expanded from ten locations to 715 theaters and is expected to earn around $3.1 million over the three-day weekend and $3.7 million over the four-day weekend. The teen LGBTQ+ high school comedy has performed well in major cities such as NYC, LA, San Francisco, DC, Chicago, Austin, and Dallas.

Additionally, the Telugu film “Kushi” is showing strong numbers in several cities, including Austin, Dallas, DC, Seattle, NYC, San Francisco, and Atlanta. It is projected to earn around $1.4 million over the four-day weekend.

Overall, the box office for all films is expected to reach around $115.8 million over the four-day weekend, up 63% from last year’s Labor Day weekend but down 17% from 2021 when “Shang-Chi” was released.

Here is the current top 10 at the box office:

1. “The Equalizer 3” – $13.1 million (Friday), $35.5 million to $36.5 million (three-day), $42 million to $43.5 million (four-day)
2. “Barbie” – $2.5 million (Friday), $10 million (three-day), $13 million (four-day), $611.8 million (total)
3. “Blue Beetle” – $1.52 million (Friday), $7 million (three-day), $9 million (four-day), $58.3 million (total)
4. “Gran Turismo” – $1.56 million (Friday), $6.55 million (three-day), $8.5 million (four-day), $30.6 million (total)
5. “Oppenheimer” – $1.3 million (Friday), $5.38 million (three-day), $7 million (four-day), $310 million (total)
6. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” – $1.04 million (Friday), $4.77 million (three-day), $6.3 million (four-day), $107.99 million (total)
7. “The Meg 2: The Trench” – $600,000 (Friday), $3 million (three-day), $4 million (four-day), $79.4 million (total)
8. “Bottoms” – $1.27 million (Friday), $3.1 million (three-day), $3.78 million (four-day), $4.5 million (total)
9. “Strays” – $610,000 (Friday), $2.44 million (three-day), $3.1 million (four-day), $21.3 million (total)
10. “Talk to Me” – $449,000 (Friday), $1.6 million (three-day), $1.95 million (four-day), $44.2 million (total)

On Friday afternoon, “The Equalizer 3” was projected to earn $11.5 million for the day, resulting in a three-day total in the low $30

How has the debut of Efully in major cities like NYC, LA, San Francisco, DC, Chicago, Austin, and Dallas impacted the overall box office earnings?

Efully debuted in major cities like NYC, LA, San Francisco, DC, Chicago, Austin, and Dallas.

The Telugu film “Kushi” has also showcased strong numbers in various cities, including Austin, Dallas, DC, Seattle, NYC, San Francisco, and Atlanta. It is projected to earn approximately $1.4 million over the four-day weekend, with $363,000 earned on Saturday alone.

Overall, the box office for all films is expected to reach around $115.8 million over the four-day weekend, which represents a significant increase of 63% compared to last year’s Labor Day weekend. However, it is a decrease of 17% compared to 2021 when “Shang-Chi” was released.

Currently, “The Equalizer 3” holds the top spot at the box office, with “Barbie” in second place earning $9.1 million over three days and $12 million over four days. “Blue Beetle” takes the third spot with $6.4 million over three days and $8.3 million over four days.