NEW YORK (AP) – Propelled by the popularity of Paula Hawkins’ best-seller, the fast-tracked big-screen adaptation of “The Girl on the Train” led North American theaters in ticket sales with $24.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. Less successful was Nate Parker’s Nat Turner biopic “The Birth of a Nation,” which moviegoers largely greeted with a shrug after a 17-year-old rape allegation resurfaced against its star and director.
“The Girl on the Train,” a psychological thriller starring Emily Blunt, appealed significantly to female moviegoers, who made up 68 percent of the audience, according to the film’s distributer, Universal Pictures. The film, directed by Tate Taylor (“The Help”), is about an alcoholic suburbanite woman who becomes embroiled in a mysterious disappearance.
Released just last year, Hawkins’ novel went from best-seller lists to the top of the box office in short order. DreamWorks acquired film rights to the book ahead of its publication. While reviews for the film were weak, Blunt’s lead performance was largely praised.
Nick Carpou, president of domestic distribution for Universal, credited the film’s success with the alliance of Universal and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners. Carpou said the film’s box office was largely unaffected by Hurricane Matthew.
But perhaps the most closely watched opening was Fox Searchlight’s “The Birth of a Nation.” Playing in 2,105 theaters, the film opened with a disappointing $7.1 million.