Jordan Peeles Us scared up a new box office record in its first weekend in theaters as the film set the best-ever opening for an original horror movie.
With a $70 million domestic opening weekend nearly double its early estimates of $38 million Us surpassed A Quiet Place for the best opening for an original horror film, and posted the best opening for an original R-rated film since Ted in 2012, Variety reported.
Us also more than doubled the opening weekend haul of Peeles 2017 hit Get Out, which debuted domestically with $33 million on its way to a $176 million domestic gross; Get Outs production budget was $4.5 million, while Usreportedly had a $20 million budget.
Put simply, Jordan Peele is a genius, Jim Orr, Universals president of domestic distribution, said in a statement to Variety. Hes managed to tap into something that the domestic box office cant get enough of. People cant wait to see what he does next.
Tim Heidecker noted of Us huge weekend:
Im worried being political on twitter will hurt my career. https://t.co/yOjOVQ24YO
Tim Heidecker (@timheidecker) March 24, 2019
Us also ended Captain Marvels two-week reign atop the box office. Us $70 million was the second-best opening of 2019, behind Captain Marvels $153 million debut.
2017s It, an adaptation of the Stephen King novel, established the all-time highest opening box office for a horror film with $123 million. Deadpool 2, a Marvel property, holds the record for best rated-R opening with $132 million.