#BOXOFFICE: “FURY” LIVES UP TO ITS NAME ATOP THE BOX OFFICE

Living up to its name, World War II Drama FURY takes the top of the Box Office for Sony Pictures this weekend, opening in 3,713 theatres across North America with an impressive $23.5 million in its debut. This also gives Director David Ayer (who wrote Training Day) the distinction of the second time debuting atop the Box Office.  He accomplished the feat first in September 2012 with End of Watch.  Made for a reported $68 million budget, the Film starring a talented male Ensemble including Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Joe Bernthal, Michael Peña and Megastar Brad Pitt tallied in at 80% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, a strong consensus from Critics.  CinemaScore also indicates Audiences gave it an A- which bodes well for word of mouth.

Slipping to second spot this weekend is 20th Century Fox‘s commercially and critically successful GONE GIRL. After remaining on-top for two consecutive weeks domestically, the Film earns $17.8 million this weekend in its third week out from 3,248 theatres.  The Film also just surpassed the $100 million-mark this weekend in North America also.

20th Century Fox also has a solid showing in third spot with THE BOOK OF LIFE with $17 million from 3,071 theatres.  The Animated Feature from Director/Writer Jorge Gutierrez and Producer Guillermo del Toro featuring the Voice Work of Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum and Diego Luna, critically has been well-received with an 80% tally on the Tomatometer and an A- CinemaScore also. Many are calling this a Contender Awards Season in its respective category.

ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY continues to capitalize on a lack of Family-oriented options at the Box Office, in fourth this weekend with $12 million from 3,088 theatres in its second week for Disney.

THE BEST OF ME, the latest Film Adaptation from best-selling Romance Writer Nicholas Sparks, opens in fifth spot with $10.2 million for Relativity Media and eOne Films from 2,936 theatres.  Starring James Marsden and Michelle Monaghan, Critics were harsh on it with a 7% on the Tomatometer, but a decent B+ CinemaScore from Audiences.

ANNABELLE continues to scare Moviegoers in eight with $7.9 million in its third week out from 2,878 theatres.  In its North America run so far, this Prequel to The Conjuring has made just shy of $80 million for Warner Bros.

THE EQUALIZER hangs-on to the Top Ten in ninth spot for Sony Pictures with $5.4 million from 2,262 theatres in four weeks, cumulatively grossing just under $90 million.

THE MAZE RUNNER rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.5 million in its fifth week out, just surpassing the $90 million-mark domestically.