Lupita Nyong’o’s new movie rakes in Sh7 billion

Director Jordan Peele (L), and actors Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke, seen at the March 19, 2019 New York premiere of "Us," helped propel the horror film to the top of the North American box office. [Courtesy, AFP]

With his new film "Us" blasting to an estimated $70.3 million (Sh7.077 billion) opening in North American theaters in one of the best launches ever for a horror film, director Jordan Peele has done it again.

Website BoxOfficeMojo called the film's three-day ticket sales "mind-blowing.”

The Universal production, which stars Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke and Elisabeth Moss in the story of a family that encounters horrifying versions of themselves, had the second-best launch of the year, trailing only blockbuster "Captain Marvel," according to industry watcher Exhibitor Relations.

Peele had impressed Hollywood with his first production, "Get Out," another horror film with heavy social commentary that won an Oscar as Best Original Screenplay and was the 10th most profitable film of 2017. The new film has a 94 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, rare praise for a horror flick.

"Us" pushed Disney's "Captain Marvel" down to second place, at $35 million (Sh3.5 billion) for the weekend, but that female-led blockbuster had little to complain about. With Brie Larson starring as a former fighter pilot with superpowers, the film has taken in a combined $910 million at home and abroad.

In third spot was Paramount's animation "Wonder Park," at $9 million (Sh906m). The film, about an amusement park based on a young girl's imaginings, is voiced by Brianna Denski, Jennifer Garner, Matthew Broderick and John Oliver.

Fourth spot went to CBS/Lionsgate's teen drama "Five Feet Apart," at $8.8 million (Sh885m). It stars Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse as teens who fall in love but must keep their distance while being treated for cystic fibrosis.

And in fifth was "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World," at $6.5 million (Sh654m). It tells the story of young Hiccup and his dragon Toothless on a quest for a dragon utopia. Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera and Cate Blanchett provide the voices.