Warner Bros' Asian-centric film Crazy Rich Asians topped North American box office in its opening weekend, breaking all expectations with an estimated $25.23 million in three days.
The romantic comedy-drama film, based on Kevin Kwan's novel of the same name, has brought in $34 million since its debut on Wednesday. It's the first Hollywood studio film in over 25 years to feature a nearly all Asian cast since 1993's Joy Luck Club.
Producers and directors drew cast from all over the world: China, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, England and America. Directed by Chinese American filmmaker Jon M. Chu, the film stars Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Constance Wu, Ken Jeong, Harry Shum Jr., Chris Pang, Sonoya Mizuno, Jing Lusi and Awkwafina.
The plot follows a young Chinese American woman who travels to meet her boyfriend's family, only to find them to be among the richest in Singapore.
The film received an "A" from moviegoers on CinemaScore and a highly positive 92 percent certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
"The much talked about and well-reviewed film may help bring back the romantic comedy back in favor with audiences," wrote movie analyst Paul Dergarabedian at comScore in an email to Xinhua.
The American-Chinese co-production The Meg moved to second place with an estimated $21.15 million. The science fiction shark film, based on the New York Times best-selling novel Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror by Steve Alten, is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and China's Gravity Pictures.
The film was distributed in China by Gravity Pictures, and throughout the rest of the world by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Directed by Jon Turteltaub, The Meg stars English action star Jason Statham and award-winning Chinese actress Li Bingbing among others. Filming on the film was accomplished on location in China and New Zealand. The plot follows a group of scientists who encounter pre-historic 75-foot-long (23 m) Megalodon sharks.
The Meg has earned a total of $ 83.75 million in North America for a global cume of $314.2 million through Sunday, according to studio figures collected by comScore.
STX's Mile 22 opened in third place with an estimated $13.62 million in its debut this weekend. The action thriller film is directed by Peter Berg and stars Lauren Cohan, John Malkovich, Terry Kinney, Iko Uwais, Poorna Jagannathan and Ronda Rousey. It follows an elite CIA task force, composed of paramilitary officers from Ground Branch of Special Activities Division, that has to escort a high-priority asset 22 miles to an extraction point while being hunted by terrorists.
Another newcomer, Sony's epic adventure Alpha opened in fourth place with an estimated $10.5 million this weekend. The plot follows an injured young hunter named Keda who befriends an injured wolf named Alpha around 20,000 years ago during the Ice Age.
In a tie with Alpha, Paramount's action film Mission: Impossible - Fallout also earned an estimated $10.5 million in this its fourth weekend. Starring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, Mission: Impossible - Fallout is the sixth installment in the franchise. The film has brought in $180.73 million in North America and $501.43 million worldwide.
