According to Variety, Ghanaian director and artist Blitz Bazawule’s “The Colour Purple” has made a huge splash in Hollywood, premiering on Christmas Day with the biggest opening for a movie since 2009 and the second-highest opening ever for a movie.
The vibrant adaptation of the beloved book-turned-movie-turned-hit-Broadway-musical exceeded expectations, raking in an impressive $18 million from 3,152 North American theatres on Christmas Day.
The film’s success has not only marked a milestone for the Ghanaian filmmaker but has also positioned itself as a strong contender in the competitive holiday box office.
Boosted by positive reviews and an “A” CinemaScore, “The Color Purple” is turning heads as a musical that resonates with audiences, surpassing recent stage-to-screen adaptations such as “West Side Story,” “In the Heights,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” and “Cats” in its opening day earnings.
The film’s Christmas Day premiere undoubtedly played a role in its success, being one of the most popular days of the year for moviegoers.
With a budget of $100 million, “The Color Purple” is off to a promising start, and industry insiders anticipate that positive word of mouth will contribute to its sustained success in the coming days.
The film’s cast, led by “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino as Celie, alongside Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, and Halle Bailey, has received praise for bringing to life the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of a Black woman living in Georgia in the early 1900s.
Other movies, such as Neon’s racing drama “Ferrari” and George Clooney’s “The Boys in the Boat,” are falling behind while “The Colour Purple” soars at the box office. Warner Bros. impressively holds the top three spots on domestic charts with “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” and “Wonka” securing second and third place, respectively.
While “The Boys in the Boat” tells the true story of the University of Washington rowing team’s journey to the 1936 Olympic games, and “Ferrari” stars Adam Driver as automotive mogul Enzo Ferrari, their opening day performances are overshadowed by the triumph of “The Color Purple.”
As the holiday season progresses, “The Color Purple” aims to remain the go-to choice for families, injecting life into what has otherwise been a lacklustre holiday box office.
With its compelling narrative, stellar cast, and Bazawule’s directorial prowess, the film is set to leave a lasting impact on the global cinematic landscape, proving that talent knows no boundaries and can emerge from unexpected corners of the world, such as Madina in Ghana.
