LOS ANGELES (AP) – “Furious 7” sped to the top of the charts in its opening weekend with an eye-popping $147.2 million from 4,004 locations, box office firm Rentrak reported Monday.
Fueled by a growing fan base and intense interest in the late star Paul Walker, who died before the film was completed, “Furious 7” annihilated both “Fast & Furious” and April box office records in its debut.
The latest installment in Universal’s homegrown franchise also solidified its place as the ninth biggest opening of all time, right behind “Spider-Man 3’s” $151 million bow in 2007.
The film, which was delayed from its original July 2014 release date following Walker’s death in November 2013, could be the first in the series to hit $1 billion.
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