Denzel Washington has done it again.
The heralded actor’s latest film The Equalizer rocked the box office this weekend by snatching up the No. 1 spot and raking in $35 million. Hitting well over the film’s projected opening of $25 million, this marks Washington’s third biggest box office opening behind Safe House and American Gangster.
Serving up the action in the story of an ex special-ops agent who faces off against the Russian mafia, The Equalizer edged out animated film The Boxtrolls, which also debuted this weekend and earned $17.2 million. Starring as Robert McCall, Washington reverts to his violent old ways in order to help set a young girl free. And it appears the actor’s character will likely be back for a second helping of ass-kicking.
“I’m pretty confident there will be a sequel,” Sony Pictures’ Rory Bruer said. “From the beginning, as the story begins to unfold, it had possible franchise written all over it.”
Surprised? Neither are we.