Nia DaCosta, Jordan Peele and company were expected to earn $15 million at the box office with their latest project, Candyman. Instead, the talented crew exceeded all opening weekend expectations en route to a $22.3 million domestic performance. Overseas, Candyman picked up another $5.23 million at the box office for an overall total of 27.53 million.
Adding to the accomplishment, DaCosta has become the first Black American woman to top the box office while sitting in the director’s chair. Not to mention, Peele appears to be en route to his third straight box office hit.
Candyman‘s success also indicates that more Americans seem to be comfortable returning to the theaters. Despite COVID-19 hospitalizations overwhelming medical facilities across the country, films like Candyman, Free Guy and F9 seem to be bringing more and more people out each week. Still, movie insiders want production studios and filmmakers to be cautious with their optimism.
“Vaccinations are picking up, but not fast enough to make a difference yet,” movie consultant David A. Gross told Variety.
“For now, it’s impressive that moviegoing is holding up as well as it is.”
Next week will be a big week for the film industry as Marvel trots out its second major release during the pandemic. Box office projections for Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings should arrive in the coming days.
