The Equalizer 3 has just passed a significant milestone at the box office following its second weekend in theaters. Directed once again by Antoine Fuqua, the third film in the hit franchise sees Denzel Washington return as retired government assassin Robert McCall. The new movie, which serves as Washington’s last as the character, features McCall facing off against the mafia in Southern Italy in order to protect people he cares about.
Now, per The Numbers, The Equalizer 3‘s box office has surpassed $100 million worldwide in its second weekend, with a total global haul of $107.6 million. This total comprises $61.8 million domestically and $45.8 million from international territories. The crossing of this new milestone is despite a somewhat disappointing 65% drop in its second weekend, with 2018’s The Equalizer 2, by comparison, featuring a 61% drop.
How Much Does The Equalizer 3 Need To Be Successful?
The first film in Fuqua’s trilogy ended its run with $192.9 million earned worldwide and the second wasn’t far behind at just over $190.3 million. Considering the films’ budgets were $55 million and $77 million, respectively, both represented successes for Sony Pictures.
The Equalizer 3‘s budget is estimated to be around $70 million, which puts its threshold for success lower than its predecessor. A general rule of thumb is that, after theaters’ cuts, back end points, and marketing costs are factored in, a movie generally needs to make around twice its budget back before it becomes profitable. The Equalizer 3, then, needs to earn around $140 million to break even, but this number could be higher or lower depending on a number of factors.
It’s still early days, but, considering its performance thus far, Fuqua’s latest sequel is very likely to be a success for Sony. The Equalizer 3‘s Rotten Tomatoes audience score, as of this writing, sits at an impressive 94%, meaning, like its predecessors, the film has been popular with audiences. It remains to be seen whether The Equalizer 3‘s total box office will end up around the first two, but next weekend’s performance will be a strong indicator as to how well the film will hold up over the next few weeks.
