'Straight Outta Compton' Debuts to Scorching $56.1 Million

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"If you were to create a blueprint for how to perfectly execute a box office year, they’ve done it"

LOS ANGELES — "Straight Outta Compton" may take place more than two decades ago, but its themes of racial tension, poverty, and police brutality still speak to moviegoers living in a post-Ferguson world.
The boys from Compton smashed opening weekend expectations, while the stylish “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” struggled to find its footing.
Universal’s N.W.A. biopic earned an astonishing $56.1 million in its debut, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Director F. Gary Gray’s well-received film charts the formation and rise of the influential rap group. It cost just $29 million to produce.
The biopic about rap group N.W.A. debuted to a blistering $56.1 million this weekend in 2,757 theaters, surpassing "American Pie 2" to become the biggest ever August debut for an R-rated movie.


Beyond the fandom around N.W.A. and the timeliness of the themes, Universal also launched a clever marketing campaign around the film, “Straight Outta Somewhere,” which allows social media users to insert photos in the iconic “Straight Outta Compton” album cover and write in a hometown of their choosing.
There have been over 5.4 million downloads to date and it trended No. 1 across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for two days in a row.
“We’ve got the best marketers in the business and they understand their audiences,” Carpou said. “The good news here is it attaches to a product that we’re exceedingly proud of.”
According to exit polls, audiences for the R-rated film were evenly divided between genders, 51 percent were under the age of 30, 46 percent were African-American and 23 percent Caucasian.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. PG-13-rated adaptation of the 1960s television series “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” debuted in third place, behind “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation,” with a sluggish $13.5 million.
“I was hoping for a little higher number, quite frankly,” said Jeff Goldstein, executive vice president of domestic distribution for Warner Bros. The goal had been a modest $15 million. The period spy thriller will have an uphill battle to make up its $80 million production budget.
Universal, the studio behind the musical biopic, has been having a year for the ages, as a steady stream of hits such as "Jurassic World," "Fifty Shades of Grey," "Pitch Perfect 2," "Furious 7," and "Minions," have pushed its grosses to record heights. 
Legendary Pictures co-financed "Straight Outta Compton."
But it’s Universal’s weekend to celebrate once more in what has become a banner year for the studio. Universal crossed the $2 billion mark domestically on Saturday — four months ahead of previous record-holder Warner Bros.
“Straight Outta Compton” is Universal’s 6th film to open over $50 million in 2015 and broke the August record for an R-rated opening.
"Straight Outta Compton's" success overshadowed the weekend's other new release, Warner Bros.' "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." The stylish action-adventure wilted at the megaplexes, bringing in an etiolated $13.5 million from 3,638 theaters. That's a particularly rough start considering that "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." cost a sizable $75 million to produce.
The revival of the 1960s' television show had been stuck in development hell for nearly as long as N.W.A.'s members have been making records, attracting the interest of stars like Tom Cruise and George Clooney and directors like Steven Soderbergh and Quentin Tarantino at various points. The modish version that ultimately made it to screens was directed by Guy Ritchie and stars Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released later today.


1. “Straight Outta Compton,” $56.1 million ($15,000 international).
2. “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation,” $17 million ($46.1 million international).
3. “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” $13.5 million.
4. “Fantastic Four,” $8 million ($16.2 million international).
5. “The Gift,” $6.5 million ($717,800 international).
6. “Ant-Man,” $5.5 million ($5.6 million international).
7. “Vacation,” $5.3 million ($1.9 million international).
8. “Minions,” $5.2 million ($15 million international).
9. “Ricki and the Flash,” $4.6 million.
10. “Trainwreck,” $3.8 million ($6.2 million international).


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