By While I wouldn’t say that Barbenheimer fever is gone, we’re firmly past it being the dominant force at the box office. This weekend, new debut The Equalizer 3 exploded onto the scene with a $34.5 million debut. Estimates are putting its Labor Day gross, specifically, at another $6.5 million for a total of $41 million. This would make the film the second biggest Labor Day opening weekend in modern history.
Internationally, the film made another $26 million, which is very good news. The film’s budget is reportedly $70 million, so it won’t be long before Denzel Washinton’s latest becomes profitable. Speaking of profitability, Barbie has now become the highest-grossing film of 2023 and somehow has managed to hold onto second place at the box office. An additional $10.6 million this weekend will only add to the coffers of director Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie.
Blue Beetle came in at third with $7.2 million for the weekend and an estimated $2 million for Labor Day. It’s not the greatest turnout, but the film has a slim chance of somehow making its budget back. Gran Turismo, meanwhile, fell to fourth place with $6.5 million and looks to be slowing down considerably. Oppenheimer, on the other hand, rounded out the top five with $5.3 million and has even become Christopher Nolan’s third highest-grossing domestic film ever.
Here are the top 10 films for the weekend of September 1-3, 2023. All totals are domestic:
- The Equalizer 3 – $34.5 million
- Barbie – $10.6 million
- Blue Beetle – $7.2 million
- Gran Turismo – $6.5 million
- Oppenheimer – $5.5 million
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – $4.7 million
- Bottoms – $3 million
- Meg 2: The Trench – $2.9 million
- Strays – $2.5 million
- Talk to Me – $1.7 million
