Los Angeles [US], June 28 (ANI / Xinhua): Universal’s action film “F9: The Fast Saga” topped the North American box office with a whopping US $ 70 million opening in 4,179 theaters, beating the region’s pandemic weekend box office record.

According to studio figures collected by measurement firm Comscore, this is the biggest opening for a film in North America since “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” released in December 2019 with a weekend of opening of $ 177 million.

The previous record holder during the COVID-19 pandemic was Paramount’s horror film “A Quiet Place Part II”, which opened last month with a total of $ 48.3 million over 3 days in 3,726 theaters north. – Americans.

Directed by Chinese-American director Justin Lin, the latest addition to Vin Diesel’s “FastFurious” franchise, his ode to fast cars and faster action, is based on a screenplay co-written by Lin and Daniel Casey, and features an all-star line of Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang and others.

“F9: The Fast Saga” holds a 59% approval rating based on 221 reviews to date on the Rotten Tomatoes review aggregation website and an audience B CinemaScore.

The film’s strong opening propelled the North American weekend’s total box office to over $ 98 million, more than double the total of last weekend’s $ 45.9 million. Its impressive box office performance has been acclaimed by the American media and pundits, as 80% of all North American theaters are currently open.

“The big-screen tribute to towering men, fast cars and gravity-defying stunts gives a much needed boost to the film industry, which struggles to bounce back as audiences begin to feel at ease. to return to their local multiplex, “commented Variety, one of Hollywood’s top trade publications.

The Hollywood Reporter, another leading Hollywood trade publication, also noted that “the ninth installment of the Fast and Furious saga is a much needed boost to the theatrical experience.” “The summer season has seen its ups and downs at the box office so far, but ‘F9’ performance is important for an industry trying to get back on its feet after the plummeting Covid epidemic box office figures, ”noted the Cable News Network (CNN).

Data from Comscore showed the film grossed more than $ 335 million at the international box office for a whopping global cumulative of $ 404.85 million.

China is the biggest market for the film to date. According to box office data compiled by Maoyan, a Chinese ticketing and movie data platform, “F9: The Fast Saga” grossed more than 1.39 billion yuan (about $ 215 million) on the mainland. China.

Paramount’s horror film “A Quiet Place Part II” came in second with $ 6.2 million from 3,124 locations in its fifth weekend for a North American cumulative of $ 136.38 million. dollars.

The 2018 film sequel “A Quiet Place” also raised $ 9.6 million in its fifth international weekend for an international total of $ 112.1 million.

American filmmaker John Krasinski directed and co-wrote the two Quiet Place films about a family surviving in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by blind monsters with a keen sense of hearing. Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe reprise their roles from the first film.

Following the deadly events at home, the family must now face the terrors of the outside world in the sequel as they continue their struggle for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they soon realize that the creatures that hunt by sound aren’t the only threats lurking beyond the sandy path.

Lionsgate and Millennium Media’s action comedy film “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” took third place with $ 4.87 million from 3,361 locations in its second weekend for a North American total of $ 25.87 million.

The film is the sequel to “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” from 2017. Directed by Patrick Hughes, Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek reprise their roles from the first film. Antonio Banderas, Morgan Freeman and Frank Grillo join the cast of the sequel.

In the film, suspended bodyguard Michael Bryce must once again team up with hitman Darius Kincaid and his even more volatile wife. The trio get carried away in a global conspiracy and soon discover that they are all that stands between Europe and a vengeful and powerful madman.

Sony’s animated adventure comedy “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway” landed in fourth place with $ 4.85 million from 3,331 locations in its third weekend. The film has grossed $ 28.85 million to date in North America.

Directed by Will Gluck, the 2018 sequel to “Peter Rabbit” stars the voice of James Corden as the main character. Venturing out of the garden into the suite, Peter finds himself in a world where his misdeeds are appreciated, but when his family risks everything to come and look for him, Peter must determine what kind of bunny he wants to be.

Disney crime comedy “Cruella” took fifth place with $ 3.72 million from 2,820 locations in its fifth weekend, bringing North American revenue to $ 71.3 million .

Directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Emma Stone and Emma Thompson among others, the film, set in 1970s London in the midst of the punk rock revolution, follows a young con artist named Estella as she explores the path which will lead her to become a celebrity in the making. fashion designer known as Cruella de Vil. (ANI / Xinhua)