‘Straight Outta Compton’ Debuts to Scorching $56.1 Million

But along comes “Straight Outta Compton” and suddenly the box office picture is looking to be all good again.

Judging by the huge audience and largely positive response at the official Academy screening for Straight Outta Compton on Saturday night, the movie, which details the rise of N.W.A., might just be this year’s first big contender for an Oscar.

The summer movie season is coming to a close, but it appears it had at least one more surprise up its sleeve before it sails off into the sunset.

Aldis Hodge, from left, as MC Ren, Neil Brown, Jr.as DJ Yella, Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E, OShea Jackson, Jr.as Ice Cube and Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre, star in the film, “Straight Outta Compton.”.

Universal, the company behind Straight Outta Compton, said they had “not solicited enhanced security for theaters” showing the film last weekend.

According to Variety, the “Straight Outta Compton” audience was 52 percent female, 51 percent under the age of 30, 46 percent African-American, 23 percent Caucasian, 21 percent Hispanic, and 4 percent Asian.

Universal has done very well so far this year, with its movies taken together breaking all previous records, grossing $5.5 billion already, globally.

In April, the studio released “Furious 7” which made $147.1 million for its debut – again a record for its month.

The other big new film release, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., took just $13.5m (£8.6m) over the weekend, entering the chart at number three. The period spy thriller will have an uphill battle to make up its $80 million production budget. “‘Walk the Line, ‘ James Mangold’s Johnny Cash biopic, debut with $22 million back in 2008 on the way to a $119 million domestic cume”. This constitutes a 69% drop in attendance overall, which suggests this movie might not have much longer to live at the box office.

In sixth place was Marvel action flick “Ant-Man” with US$5.5 million in its fifth week.