Sony Pictures' racing film "Gran Turismo" has raced to the top spot at the box office, successfully fending off Barbie's bid to reclaim the throne.
"Gran Turismo" debuted with an opening weekend box office earnings of $17.3 million in the domestic market, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. While this figure might be modest for a video game-based movie, it was sufficient to secure the coveted No. 1 position.
The film also raked in an impressive $36.5 million from 61 international markets, resulting in an early global total of $53.8 million.
The film's arrival in theaters was slightly delayed by two weeks due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which had restricted actors from engaging in promotional activities. This unexpected hold-up, however, gave fans the chance to experience sneak peeks and special screenings, cultivating a buzz and generating a solid $3.9 million before the official release on August 25.
The last-minute maneuver enabled "Gran Turismo" to outpace Barbie's latest outing, as the Greta Gerwig-directed film accumulated $17.1 million in box office earnings over the weekend. Nevertheless, it's worth noting that these figures may undergo changes due to the second annual National Cinema Day.
During this event, movie tickets are priced at a reduced rate of $4 across multiple theaters, which analysts predict could lead to a dynamic day for the box office.
According to EntTelligence, Barbie held the lead in ticket sales early on Sunday morning. This occurrence marks the second instance where Barbie missed securing the top spot at the box office.
In the previous weekend, the new release from Warner Bros. and DC Studios, "Blue Beetle," managed to clinch $25.4 million in the United States and Canada, successfully surpassing Barbie's earnings. As "Blue Beetle" entered its second week, it landed in the third position, accumulating an estimated $12.8 million from a wide release of 3,871 theaters. This achievement brought its domestic total to $46.3 million. On the international front, the film generated $10 million, pushing its global earnings to an impressive $81.8 million.
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