With a $60M weekend, Straight Outta Compton vaults to Academy attention

As promising as the gloss critics had already given Straight Outta Compton, the multi-faceted bio-pic of rap group N.W.A. achieved something else this weekend that can only add to its sheen. Exceeding Universal’s best expectations, the first box-office estimates yesterday were in $56 million range — and today that amazing number was revised upwards to $60.2 mil. This places Straight Outta Compton in the top 5 best August openings of all time. (Guardians of the Galaxy and Bourne Ultimatum hold the #1 and #2 August records). With a rock-solid Cinemascore of ‘A’, Straight Outta Compton has vaulted to prominence with a reverberating thump of undeniable Oscar heat, as witnessed by a packed Academy screening yesterday that “drew a massive crowd and overwhelmingly favorable response,” according to reports from THR. I posted the red-band trailer back in February but I suppose we had more urgent things on our minds because 6 months ago it was greeted by crickets. Give a listen to Sasha and Jeff who were on the case for Straight Outta Compton in their recent return of OscarPoker.

I’m seeing Straight Outta Compton this afternoon. Meanwhile, a repost of the trailer.