Sony’sThe Equalizer 3came out all guns blazingover the Labor Day weekend, and has been able to deliver the goods during a rather rough phase at the box office. On its 27th day in theaters across the world, the action film passed the $150 million mark at the global box office, putting it closer to its two predecessors, which incidentally concluded their domestic and worldwide runs with near-identical totals.
This means that a million dollars here or there could either makeThe Equalizer 3the highest-grossing movie ofthe trilogy, or the lowest-grossing one. As things stand, the film has earned around $83 million domestically, and another $67 million from overseas markets, for a global total of just over $150 million. The film’s biggest foreign markets are the U.K. ($9 million), Australia ($5.5 million), Spain ($4 million), The Netherlands ($2.6 million) and Italy ($1.9 million).The Equalizer 3experienced a bit of a stumble in its second weekend, but has since been able tostablize itself.
By comparison, 2014’sThe Equalizergrossed $101 million domestically and $192 million worldwide, whileThe Equalizer 2, released four years later, concluded its domestic run with $102 million, and grossed $191 million globally. Each of the three films in the series has been directed byAntoine Fuquaand starsDenzel Washington; the duo most famously collaborated on 2001’sTraining Day, which earned Washington his second acting Oscar.
The Movie Provided Some Hope in a Disappointing September
TheEqualizermovies, which are loosely based on the ‘80s television series of the same name, established Washington as an older action star after a career dominated mostly by dramatic roles. It’s similar to how theTakentrilogy gaveLiam Neeson’s careera new lease on lifein the late 2000s. Over the past decade or so, Washington has quietly proven himself to be among the last remaining American movie stars; someone who is capable of opening a film despite not being allowed to promote it.The Equalizer 3was released amid the WGA and SAG-AFTRAstrikes, during which talent was forbidden from engaging in promotional activities.
The period caused millions in losses for studios and artists, and also resulted in the delays of several high-profile fall releases. Overall, the month of September was a noticeable let-down from therecord highs of the summermovie season, butThe Equalizer 3andThe Nun IIkept the ticket counters ringing. This weekend will see the release of another franchise sequel,Saw X, which is expected to duke it out for the top spot with the original science-fiction filmThe Creator. Earning the best reviews of the trilogy anda ravefrom Collider’sNate Richard,The Equalizer 3also starsDakota Fanning,David Denman,Sonia Ammar,andRemo Gironein supporting roles.
