#BOXOFFICE: “THE EQUALIZER” DOES BALANCING ACT AT BOX OFFICE

After making a splash at TIFF ’14, The Equalizer balances its way to the top of the Box Office this weekend with an impressive $35 million from 3,236 theatres in its North American debut. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the Action-Drama reunites the Filmmaker with Denzel Washington after their Oscar-winning success with Training Day.  Although mixed, Reviews were not altogether bad for the Sony Pictures release, garnering 60% on the Tomatometer and an A- CinemaScore which just might help with word of mouth in coming weeks.  The Film, based on the popular ’80s TV Series, was made for approximately $55 million.

In its second week out, 20th Century Fox‘s The Maze Runner finds itself in second spot after a successful debut the weekend prior.  It pulls-in a solid $17.5 million this weekend from 3,638 theatres, cumulatively grossing $58 million domestically thus far.

Moviegoers hungry for some Family content, flocked to see Focus Features/eOne Films’ The Boxtrolls this weekend, earning $17.2 million from 3,464 theatres.  According to CinemaScore, the Animated Feature earns a B+ rating, while Critics gave it a decent 72% on the Tomatometer.  The Movie features the voicework of Ben Kingsley, Elle Fanning  and Toni Collette.

In its second week out, star-studded Dramedy This is Where I Leave You finds itself in fourth spot with $7.2 million for Warner Bros. This brings its two-week tally to $22.2 million, just recouping back its $19 million budget.

Former Champ No Good Deed lands in sixth spot for Sony Pictures with $4.6 million in its third week, just ahead of A Walk Among the Tombstones from Universal Pictures/eOne Films which tallied-in with $4.2 million in its second week out.

A resilient Guardians of the Galaxy is in eighth spot in now its ninth week of release, with $3.7 million earned this weekend.  The Blockbuster from Marvel edges past the $320-million mark in U.S./Canada.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.4 million for Paramount Pictures in its eighth week out.  It edges ever-closer to that $200-million mark.