The Equalizer 3, led by Denzel Washington, had the second-highest Labor Day opening weekend of all time.
In the meantime, Barbie has become 2023’s highest-grossing film. The longevity of famed actors and actresses in the film industry is evidenced by their continued success at the box office. According to Comscore, Oscar winner and your favorite actor Denzel Washington’s The Equalizer 3 earned $34.5 million from Friday through Sunday over the Labor Day weekend.
Sony predicts a four-day harvest of $42 million, including Labor Day, making the third installment in the Equalizer franchise the second-highest Labor Day opening weekend ever.
Although Labor Day is often not a large box office weekend like Memorial Day or Christmas, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is still the indisputable champ with $94.6 million as its four-day total.
Even still, The Equalizer 3’s positive critical and commercial reception confirms Washington’s A-list status at a time when other performers of his caliber are faltering. Consider the flops that were Indiana Jones 4 and Mission: Impossible 7 this summer, both starring Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise, two other Big Stars.
The Equalizer 3 earned $26.1 million overseas through Sunday, bringing its three-day total to $60.6 million.
The third installment in the Antoine Fuqua-directed franchise has ex-CIA officer Robert McCall (Washington) in Italy, clashing with the Mafia, and getting down to the violent business of equalizing, reuniting Washington and Dakota Fanning from Man on Fire.
I think this is the final chapter. That’s how the conversation has gone between us. But hey, it could happen! The decision to do a fourth picture, Fuqua stated, will be made by Washington. If he wanted to make another one, I’d be down for it, but I just don’t see it happening. However, who can say?
The Barbie franchise has maintained a steady second place at the box office. The Greta Gerwig hit, now in its seventh week of release, is expected to earn $13.8 million over the holiday weekend, pushing its domestic total to $612.7 million.
With a global total of $1.38 billion (after already having beaten its domestic take by two weeks), Barbie has surpassed The Super Mario Bros. Movie as 2023’s highest-grossing film. The rosy phenomenon is also Warner Bros.’s highest-grossing film ever, spanning the studio’s entire 100-year existence.
With an estimated $9.4 million in domestic ticket sales through Monday, Blue Beetle has a domestic total of $58.8 million (and a global total of $101.9 million as of Sunday).
After narrowly edging out last week’s competition for first place, Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story hit the skids in its second week of release, falling to fourth position. The racing film has only made an estimated $8.5 million through Monday, bringing its domestic total to $30.6 million and its worldwide total to $79 million.
Oppenheimer, which is expected to earn $7.2 million over the four-day weekend and $310.3 million after seven weeks in theaters, rounds out the top five.
The World War II drama remained at No. 2 overseas through Sunday, earning $49.7 million for a global gross of $851.3 million and making it Christopher Nolan’s third highest-grossing film ever, after The Dark Knight Rises and The Dark Knight.