“Wonder Woman” powered to $11 million at the Thursday previews, which includes a gross of $1.5 million at IMAX theaters.
Starring Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, the film was initially tracking for an opening weekend in the $60 million-range, but estimates quickly revised those numbers to close to $100 million. The studio remains conservative with a $70 million estimate.
The film, directed by Patty Jenkins, follows Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman as she leaves her home of Themyscira to stop the great war after a pilot lands on the island, and tells her about what is happening outside of the bubble that is Diana’s home.
“Wonder Woman” also stars Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, Danny Huston and David Thewlis. The female superhero film is rated fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 93 percent — for a while, it held a score of 97 percent, which would have made it the best reviewed DC film since “The Dark Knight” (94 percent). This is also impressive given that Warner Bros.’ latest DC films, “Suicide Squad” and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” were skewered by critics.
Overseas, the film is opening in almost every market including China. “Wonder Woman” was banned in Lebanon this past week because Gadot is Israeli.
Fox’s animated film “Captain Underpants” also started previews on Thursday at 5 p.m., grossing $650,000 from 2,550 locations. DreamWorks’ Animation’s “Home” opened to the same number in March 2015. It’s tracking to open in the $25 million range and cost $38 million to produce.
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Based on a children’s novel series, “Captain Underpants” stars Kevin Hart, Thomas Middleditch, Ed Helms, Nick Kroll, Jordan Peele and Kristen Shaal. It was directed by David Soren, who also helmed 2013’s “Turbo.”
The movie is about two imaginative pranksters named George and Harold who hypnotize their principal into thinking he’s a superhero named Captain Underpants.
Reviews have been solid — the film holds a score of 82 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.