While early Friday estimates had Straight Outta Compton easily securing the top spot at this weekend’s box office, the N.W.A biopic is once again facing stiff competition from the critically maligned Christian drama War Room. Only time will tell if Straight Outta Compton rules the box office for a fourth weekend.
Per Variety:
N.W.A biopic “Straight Outta Compton” and faith-based drama “War Room” are neck-and-neck at the box office for the second weekend in a row, with “War Room” narrowly beating out “Compton” in Friday grosses.
Sony/Affirm’s “War Room,” having already surprised everyone with a big turnout in its opening weekend, pulled in $2.3 million from 1,526 locations Friday night, putting it on track for a four-day haul of more than $13 million. The Labor Day bump would bring the Christian drama’s total to $29 million.
Already deemed the top faith-based film of the year, “War Room” stars Priscilla Shirer, T.C. Stallings and Karen Abercrombie and was directed by Alex Kendrick.
Universal-Legendary’s “Straight Outta Compton,” which had been expected to rule the B.O. for a fourth straight weekend, generated $2.2 million in Friday receipts at 3,094 locations. As such, “Compton” looks poised to finish Labor Day weekend with $11 million, bringing its total cume past the $150 million mark. “Compton” stars O’Shea Jackson, Jr. as Ice Cube, his father, and was directed by F. Gary Gray.
Both films feature predominantly black casts, but which film is your money on to secure the number one spot?
