'Challengers' Tops US Box Office with $15 Million Opening Weekend

The movie 'Challengers', directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Zendaya, had a strong opening weekend at the US box office, generating $15 million. The R-rated sports drama made $6.5 million on its opening day, including $1.9 million from preview screenings, and is expected to earn an additional $5.1 million over the rest of the weekend according to Amazon MGM. The film also opened early in Australia and New Zealand, bringing in $756k.

While the $15 million opening weekend is not as high as Zendaya's other 2024 hit 'Dune: Part Two', it is still a reasonable amount for her first official leading role in a feature film. The movie's impressive performance is partly due to the fact that 40% of the gross comes from IMAX and PLF screenings, which is unparalleled for a non-franchise/action title. 'Challengers' received a B CinemaScore, and 37% of the gross came from Imax and PLFs, which is impressive for a non-action franchise title.

Why this matters: 'Challengers' marks the biggest opening ever for director Luca Guadagnino and the best live-action original non-IP movie opening for actress Zendaya. The film's success demonstrates the drawing power of Zendaya and the potential for original, non-franchise films to perform well at the box office.

The movie is resonating with Zendaya's fanbase, with 55% of the audience citing her as the main reason for seeing the film. 'Challengers' is set to have a strong international performance as well, having already opened in Australia and New Zealand. The film follows Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy who becomes a coach and helps her husband, a tennis champion facing a losing streak, by coaching him to compete against his ex-best friend, who is also Tashi's ex-boyfriend.

Zendaya, who underwent weeks of tennis training for the role, said the character Tashi is unapologetic about her power and that the film aims to have multifaceted characters, even if they are not necessarily likable. The movie explores the complicated relationship between the three main characters and their shared passion for professional tennis. 'Challengers' faced competition from other new releases like 'Unsung Hero,' a Christian musician biopic, and 'Boy Kills World,' an R-rated action film, but managed to secure the top spot at the box office this weekend.

Key Takeaways

• Zendaya's 'Challengers' had a $15M opening weekend, a strong debut.
• 40% of gross came from IMAX/PLF screenings, unparalleled for non-franchise film.
• 'Challengers' marks Guadagnino's biggest opening and Zendaya's first lead role.
• Zendaya's fanbase drove 55% of audience, indicating her drawing power.
• Film explores complex relationships in a tennis drama setting.