Straight Outta Compton ruled the weekend once again, taking in an additional $26.8 million from 3,025 locations for a domestic total of $111.5 million.
After earning a massive $60.2 million in its domestic debut just last weekend, the Universal and Legendary film declined roughly 56 percent in its second round. Compton tells the story of how one of the most famous West Coast rap groups, N.W.A., rose to fame from the streets of Compton, California in the mid-90s.
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The weekend’s new wide releases carried R-ratings and catered to adult crowds, starting with Focus Features’ Sinister 2. The horror sequel finished in third place with $10.6 million from 2,766 locations, slightly less than the $14 million to $16 million the studio predicted considering the first Sinister’s $18 million debut. Sinister 2, starring James Ransone, Shannyn Sossamon and Robert Daniel Sloan, is about a young mother and her twin sons who move into a rural house that’s marked for death.
The film earned a B minus CinemaScore from audience members, made up of 51 percent female and 57 percent over the age of 25, and a 12 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics.
Another weekend newcomer was Fox’s Hitman: Agent 47, earning $8.2 million across 3,261 theaters for a fourth place finish. The film tells the story of an assassin who teams up with a woman to help her find her father and uncover the mysteries of her ancestry. It stars Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware and Zachary Quinto.
Hitman earned a B CinemaScore from moviegoers, who were 61 percent male and 60 percent over the age of 25, while critics gave it a 7 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Lionsgate’s American Ultra was the final newcomer at the box office, with a meager $5.5 million debut from 2,778 theaters and a sixth place finish. The film reunites Jesse Eisenberg, who plays a stoner that discovers he’s really a government agent, and Kristen Stewart; the two worked together on 2009’s Adventureland.
American Ultra included moviegoers who were 56 percent male and 65 percent over the age of 25. They gave the film a B minus CinemaScore, while critics gave it a 45 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“At the end of the day, they cannibalized each other,” said Chris Aronson, Fox’s distribution chief. “It’s an unfortunate confluence of events. All three of those films combined would have made a decent opening for any one of them.”
Paramount’s holdover Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation landed in second place with $11.7 million and a grand total of $157.8 million, while Warner Bros.’ Man From U.N.C.L.E. finished in fifth place with $7.4 million in its second weekend. Thus far, the action film has earned $26.6 million domestically.
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Top 10 Films at Weekend Box Office: August 21-23
- Straight Outta Compton — $26.8 million
- Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation — $11.7 million
- Sinister 2 — $10.6 million
- Hitman: Agent 47 — $8.2 million
- Man From U.N.C.L.E. — $7.4 million
- American Ultra — $5.5 million
- The Gift — $4.3 million
- Ant-Man — $4.1 million
- Minions — $3.7 million
- Fantastic Four — $3.65 million
