“No Escape,” an action thriller starring Owen Wilson and Pierce Brosnan, opened with a decent $1.2 million Wednesday, according to estimates from the Weinstein Company. That wasn’t enough to catch the N.W.A biopic “Straight Outta Compton,” which was No.1 with an estimated $2.1 million.
But it’s roughly the start that TWC had projected for the R-rated saga of an American family trapped in a Southeast Asian nation when a coup erupts. It’s in 3,007 theaters and is getting an early start on the weekend. Analysts expect it to take in somewhere around $10 million over the five days.
“No Escape” was directed by John Erick Dowdle, who co-wrote with his brother Drew, and co-stars Lake Bell. “We Are Your Friends,” an electronic dance music drama starring Zac Efron, debuts on Friday and will be in 2,333 theaters for Warner Bros., along with the faith-based “War Room,” which will roll out in roughly 1,100 theaters for Sony.
“We Are Your Friends” is a niche play and looking at $7 million or $8 million over the three days, with “War Room” projected to come in with somewhere in the $5 million.
“Straight Outta Compton” is favored to win its third straight weekend and finish in the mid-teen millions for Universal. Directed by F. Gary Gray, the R-rated tale of the seminal rappers had taken in nearly $120 million domestically through Wednesday.