Disney and Marvel’s Ant-Man and Amy Schumer‘s R-rated comedy Trainwreck both enjoyed solid starts at the Friday box office, although weekend estimates have been revised downwards after moviegoing slowed Friday night.
Ant-Man, starring Paul Rudd, is easily winning the North American race with a $22.6 million Friday, putting it on course to earn just shy of $60 million for the weekend, a respectable start for the Marvel Studios and Disney title even if it’s on the lower end of expectations.. Either way, that will put Ant-Man easily ahead of holdover Minions, which is expected to come in at No. 2 with a $47 million weekend.
The movie earned an A CinemaScore, boosting word-of-mouth.
Directed by Peyton Reed, Marvel Studios and Disney’s Ant-Man stars Rudd as con-man Scott Lang who, armed with a super-suit with the ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, attempts to pull off a heist that will save the world. The comedic superhero film, which also stars Michael Douglas and Corey Stoll, cost $130 million to produce, and is considered the most comedic and family-friendly superhero film to to hit the big screen to date.
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Trainwreck is exceeding expectations, grossing $10.7 million Friday for a projected $28.9 million weekend. Friday afternoon, based on early returns, the R-rated comedy was projected to open in the mid-$30 million range, which would have marked the best debut of filmmaker Judd Apatow‘s directing career (his current best is Knocked Up with $30.9 million).
Even if it debuts just shy of $30 million, Trainwreck‘s better-than-expected performance is a testament to Schumer’s popularity, and is being fueled by women (67 percent). Heading into the weekend, the Universal movie was expected to open to $20 million.
Schumer both stars in and penned Trainwreck. The comedy, earning an A- CinemaScore and costing a modest $35 million to make, is the fifth film directed by Apatow, and the first he didn’t also write.
The story centers on Schumer’s character, a commitment-phobic career woman who doesn’t believe in monogamy, who may have to face her fears when she meets a good guy. Bill Hader and LeBron James also star.
