Christian movie War Room kicks Straight Outta Compton to the curb as it tops US box office over long holiday weekend
War Room, a low-budget 'faith based' drama, looks certain to edge out the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton to take the top spot at the North American box office over the long Labor Day holiday weekend.
The film, which was panned by critics, gained traction in its second week of release and pulled in enough people to move from runner-up to number one, ending the F. Gary Gray-directed rap movie's three week reign at the top.
Industry analysts expect War Room, with its virtually unknown cast, to bring in an estimated 12.3 million by the end of Monday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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Fighting to the top: The low-budget' faith-based' drama gained traction in its second weekend to gross $12 million and end the three-week runat number one of Straight Outta Compton
Many of those going to see the film about a woman turning to prayer to try and save her failing marriage are African-Americans, according to the trade publication, and its estimated total gross since its debut is estimated to be close to $28 million.
Straight Outta Compton comes a close second in its fourth week of release, grossing an additional $8.8 million in the Friday through Sunday period and expected to reach a four-day total of $11.2 million.
That makes the movie, co-produced by founding N.W.A. members Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, on track to make $150 million domestically.
Niche market: The film was universally panned by critics but found an audience in certain sections of the Christian community and among African-Americans
Bit: The N.W.A. biopic slipped slightly to number two in its fourth week after three weeks at number one. The hugely successful movie won over audiences and critics alike to gross a total of $150 million in North America
Transporter Refueled, a reboot of the Jason Statham franchise with Ed Skrein replacing the British star in the lead role failed to ignite much interest from movie-goers.
Instead, A Walk In The Woods, starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte with Emma Thompson, turned in a higher-than-anticipated $8.1 million between Friday and Monday for an estimated $10.3 million opening four-day weekend.
It took the third spot at the box office ahead of Transporter Refueled in fourth which is set to earn about $8.7 million over the holiday.
Number three: Robert Redford and Nick Nolte star as friends hiking the Appalachian trail in the drama A Walk In The Woods
Meanwhile, Universal's juggernaut Jurassic World continues to gobble up global movie audiences.
This weekend, it became only the fourth film in history to pass the $1 billion mark at the international box office, joining Aavtar, Titanic and Furious 7.
Its worldwide total gross now stands at $1.65 billion making it the number three film of all time behind Avatar and Titanic.
'Everybody has taken a shine to Jurassic World. It has dominated the world, and we got every quadrant everywhere,' Duncan Clark, president of Universal's international operation, told THR.com.
Mega blockbuster: Jurassic World starring Chris Pratt surpassed $1 billion overseas this weekend, only the fourth film in history to do so, bringing its worldwide gross to $1.65 billion
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