‘Black Adam’ easily topped the domestic box office and represents the best opening day ever for a Dwayne Johnson star vehicle.
In the end, Warner Bros. Discovery didn’t need a Superman; they just needed a Black Adam. Jaume Collet-Serra’s Black Adam (review), the first four-quadrant, big-budget franchise tentpole since Thor: Love and Thunder in early July, nabbed $26.8 million on Friday. That easily topped the domestic box office and represents the best opening day ever for a Dwayne Johnson star vehicle. Among his previous big-deal theatricals, it’s behind Fast Five ($34 million on its way to an $86 million debut), Fast & Furious 6 ($38 million for a $117 million Fri-Mon debut), Furious 7 ($67 million/$147 million) and Fate of the Furious ($46 million/$99 million). Of note, he’s barely in Furious 7 (even if his few scenes were heavily featured in the marketing) while this opening day is bigger than Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw ($23 million/$60 million).
If it legs like a more recent Fast sequel, we’re looking at a $60-$63 million domestic debut. If it legs like Hobbs & Shaw or Skyscraper, it’ll open closer to $70 million.
