‘Equalizer’ Scores $1.5 Million At Thursday Box Office

Denzel Washington’s The Equalizer took in a strong $1.5 million at the box office Thursday night.

In comparison, Young Adult film adaptation The Maze Runner grossed roughly $1.1 million when it debuted last Thursday, and went on to gather $32.5 million over the premiere weekend. Prior to Equalizer, Washington’s most recent action film 2 Guns took in $1.28 million Thursday night in 2012, and debuted with $27.1 million for the weekend.

Equalizer, produced by Sony Pictures and Village Roadshow, was played in over 3,200 theaters and is expected to debut to a strong $30 million if not more, according to analysts. The studio, on the other hand, predicts a more modest opening with numbers ranging between $25 million to $30 million.

In the feature film adapted from the 1980s CBS television series, Washington stars as Robert McCall, a retired intelligence agent who is now leading a quiet life. After meeting a young girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) who is under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, McCall comes out of his retirement to battle the mobsters on the streets of Boston.

The action thriller features Eminem’s new single, “Guts Over Fear,” featuring singer Sia.

The 3D family friendly feature, The Boxtrolls, is the weekend’s other wide release, which features a boy named Eggs who was raised by trolls. It debuts in more than 3,400 locations, and is estimated to open to $15 million or more.