Universal’s “Hobbs & Shaw” has launched to an impressive $5.8 million at 3,400 North American locations in Thursday night previews.The action-laden tentpole, the first spinoff from the formidable Fast & Furious franchise, is opening at 4,253 sites and stars Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham as Deckard Shaw.Forecasts see “Hobbs & Shaw” handily topping the domestic box office with about $60 million, with Disney’s third weekend of “The Lion King” in the $30 million to $40 million range.
Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” should take the third slot at around $20 million following the director’s largest opening to date at $41 million for Sony.“Hobbs & Shaw” is the ninth title in the Fast & Furious universe, which has generated $5.1 billion in worldwide grosses since its launch in 2001.
The eighth installment in the franchise, “The Fate of the Furious,” debuted with $98.7 million domestically on April 14-16 on its way to a $226 million North American total.
Read full article