In a remarkable Labor Day weekend finale to Hollywood’s summer movie season, “Equalizer 3” led the North American box office, pulling in $34.5 million (expected to reach $42 million by Monday). This caps a summer that will surpass $4 billion in ticket sales, thanks in part to hits like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” which have continued to shine after seven weeks in theaters.
“Barbie” now stands as 2023’s biggest movie, with $1.36 billion in global earnings, surpassing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” Meanwhile, “Oppenheimer” secured the No. 3 spot for the year, grossing over $850 million globally.
“Equalizer 3” faced challenges amid an ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, limiting promotional efforts, but its recognizable franchise status helped it succeed. Sony wisely chose this weekend to release the film, maintaining the franchise’s consistency. Overseas, it contributed $26.1 million to a $60.6 million global debut.
“Barbie” added $10.6 million domestically (US and Canada), reaching $609.5 million, while “Blue Beetle” ranked third with $7.3 million. “Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story” landed in fourth place, and “Oppenheimer” rounded out the top five with $5.5 million domestically and $851 million globally.
This $4 billion summer is a positive sign for an industry still recovering from the pandemic, with uncertainty looming as actor and writer strikes persist. Last summer only reached $3.4 billion, highlighting the significance of this achievement for the industry’s health.
