Denzel Washington — Mr. Dependable when it comes to the box office — did it again this weekend with “The Equalizer.”
The R-rated action movie re-teaming him with “Training Day” director Antoine Fuqua blasted its way to No. 1 with a $35 million opening and easily whacked last week’s top film “The Maze Runner.” Fox’s young adult epic took in $17.5 million and was battling this weekend’s other wide opener, “The Boxtrolls,” for second. Focus Features’ 3D animated family film from Laika Entertainment took in an estimated $17.2 million.
The opening by “The Equalizer,” based on a 1980s TV show and co-starring Chloe Moretz, is among the best September debuts ever and the highest for an R-rated film.