Considering its cultural impact,Call Me By Your Namedidn’t exactly set the box office on fire. On Tuesday, it was overtaken byChallengers, which has now become directorLuca Guadagnino’s top-grossing film ever. In doing so,Challengersalso becamethe top-grossing tennis movie of all time, although the pool isn’t exactly a massive one. A steamy romantic drama set in the world of tennis,Challengersdelivereda strong opening weekend haula few days ago, and has taken five days flat to pass these significant box office milestones.
The movie added $2.6 million domestically on Tuesday,taking its running total to $19 million. By comparison, the widely reveredCall Me By Your Nameconcluded its domestic run with $18 million in 2017. StarringTimothée ChalametandArmie Hammeras a couple of young men caught in a whirlwind summer romance in Italy, the movie went on to earn four nominations at the 90th Academy Awards, with the legendaryJames Ivorywinning in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. StarringZendaya,Mike FaistandJosh O’Connor,Challengersis also being touted as an awards favorite. In all likelihood, it will overtakeCall Me By Your Name’s lifetime global haul of $41 million in the next few days.
The movie’s $19 million domestic haul also puts it ahead of tennis movies such as 2004’sWimbledon($16 million), 2021’sKing Richard($15 million), and 2017’sBattle of the Sexes($12 million). AlthoughWoody Allen’sMatch Pointgrossed slightly more, itstennis connectionsare superficial at best. Incidentally, all three women who’ve starred as tennis players in these films —Kirsten Dunst,Emma Stoneand Zendaya — have also played the female leads in the live-action Spider-Man movies.Zendaya is just coming off of the global blockbuster success ofDune: Part Two, which recentlypassed the $700 million milestone worldwide.Challengersis an acid test of her star power. She also serves as a producer on the movie, which topped the charts in its debut weekend with a $15 million domestic haul.
‘Challengers’ Topped the Domestic Box Office In Its Debut Weekend
For Guadagnino, this isa career high in more ways than one. In addition to now becoming his top-grossing movie domestically,Challengersalso boasts the biggest budget that he has ever worked with. The filmcost a reported $55 million to produce, and hasso far generated nearly $30 million worldwide.Challengersfollows three characters — two professional tennis players and one coach — on a sexually charged, decade-long journey during whichthey are alternately attracted and repulsed by each other.Challengersopened to excellent reviews, and currently sits ata “fresh” 89% scoreon the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes. Inhis review, Collider’sRoss Bonaimecalled it “one of the twistiest, most compelling, and nonstop horniest films of Guadagnino’s career.”
Challengerswasoriginally supposed to be released in September 2023, and was announced as the opening film of the Venice International Film Festival. But it vacated both slots due to theSAG-AFTRAand WGA strikes, which would’ve forbidden Zendaya from promoting it. you’re able to watchChallengersin theaters now, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Challengers
Follows three players who knew each other when they were teenagers as they compete in a tennis tournament to be the world-famous grand slam winner, and reignite old rivalries on and off the court.
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