HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 14 (Marilyn Malara) — Music biopic Straight Outta Compton hauled in about $5 million from its first night in theaters Thursday.
Box Office reports the film earned $4.957 million from its Thursday night preview screenings starting at 8p.m., with positive reviews only luring more. According to Deadline, the F. Gary Gray-directed flick is reportedly expected to earn between a whopping $40-50 million as it enters the brunt of its popularity in theaters.
Thursday’s preview reached about 2, 264 screens before opening to 2, 755 screens Friday, the outlet reports. Compton‘s first night overshadows all other music-themed films released this year, including Pitch Perfect 2, which hit $4.6 million on its Thursday premier.
Ahead of the film’s opening, Universal Pictures offered to reimburse theaters who opted to hire extra security over the weekend, which could be in response to this year’s latest theater shooting incident in Alabama.
“The studio has not solicited enhanced security for theaters who will begin showing [Straight Outta Compton] this weekend,” a spokesperson said, “but has partnered with those exhibitors who have requested support for their locations.”
Straight Outta Compton is produced by original N.W.A. members Ice Cube, Dr. Dre as well as Gray, Tomica Woods-Wright, Matt Alvarez and Scott Bernstein.
