Downton Abbey c Universal

Source: Universal

‘Downton Abbey’

SEPTEMBER 23 UPDATE: Downton Abbey opened at number one in North America over the weekend on a confirmed $31m that delivered the highest debut in the history of Focus Features.

The British period drama featuring a starry cast led by Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Laura Carmichael opened in 3,079 theatres for a $10,079 average, and beat fellow openers Ad Astra and Rambo: Last Blood, as well as last weekend’s champion It: Chapter Two.

The Downton Abbey audience comprised 74% females and 26% males. By age, the over-35 crowd dominated with a 60% share. The top markets in the US were New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Washington DC, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston.

The film earned $10.2m internationally to reach an early $31m and stands at $16.1m in the UK after two weekends.

Fox’s sci-fi and recent Venice Film Festival world premiere Ad Astra starring Brad Pitt and directed by James Gray touched down in second place on $19m in 3,460 venues via the Disney distribution machine.

Sylvester Stallone’s fifth outing as John Rambo in Rambo: Last Blood opened in third place through Lionsgate on $18.9m in 3,618 sites. This is the second highest opening unadjusted for inflation in an action franchise spanning 37 years that began with First Blood back in 1982. Rambo: First Blood – Part II opened on $20.2m in 1985.

Warner Bros’ It: Chapter Two fell three slots to number four in its third session, adding $17m for $178.9m. In its second weekend, STX’s popular revenge caper Hustlers with Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu fell 49.3% and three slots to number five, earning $16.8m for $62.4m.