Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard tops the box office with $11.6M debut… despite dismal reviews

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard – starring 54-year-old Salma Hayek in her second leading role in an action film – topped the box office in its opening weekend.

Director Patrick Hughes’ $70M-budget action comedy sequel earned $11.6M from 3,331 US theaters mostly thanks to men over age 25 – according to Variety.

HWB – hitting UK theaters this Wednesday – currently holds a dismal 25% critic approval rating (out of 129 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes contrasting the 79% audience score.  

Werrrk! Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard – starring 54-year-old Salma Hayek in her second leading role in an action film – topped the box office in its opening weekend

The firearm-filled funny flick also features Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Grillo, Antonio Banderas, Morgan Freeman, and Richard E. Grant.

It’s an impressive feat for the Oscar-nominated actress, who’s ‘surprised and happy’ to be inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame next year.

All 2022 honorees – including Michael B. Jordan, Carrie Fisher, Ricky Gervais, Nipsey Hussle, and Patti Lupone – pay the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce a ‘$50K sponsorship fee.’   

Not bad! Director Patrick Hughes’ (2-R, pictured in 2019) $70M-budget action comedy sequel earned $11.6M from 3,331 US theaters mostly thanks to men over age 25

Hitting UK theaters this Wednesday! HWB currently holds a dismal 25% critic approval rating (out of 129 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes contrasting the 79% audience score

‘I am getting the star!’ It’s an impressive feat for the Oscar-nominated actress, who’s ‘surprised and happy’ to be inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame next year

Congrats! All 2022 honorees – including Michael B. Jordan, Carrie Fisher, Ricky Gervais, Nipsey Hussle, and Patti Lupone – pay the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce a ‘$50K sponsorship fee’

Taking second place at the box office was the far more critically-acclaimed A Quiet Place Part II, starring Emily Blunt, with $9.4M this weekend totaling $201.6M.

Third place went to yet another sequel Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway – starring Domhnall Gleeson, Rose Byrne, and James Corden – with $6.1M this weekend totaling $80.6M.

Tying for fourth place with $5.1M at the box office this weekend were Michael Chaves’ horror flick The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and 101 Dalmatians prequel Cruella.  

Another sequel: Taking second place at the box office was the far more critically-acclaimed A Quiet Place Part II, starring Emily Blunt (R), with $9.4M this weekend totaling $201.6M

Hopping along: Third place went to yet another sequel Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway – starring Domhnall Gleeson (L), Rose Byrne (2-L), and James Corden – with $6.1M this weekend totaling $80.6M 

A lot of strong female leads! Tying for fourth place with $5.1M at the box office this weekend were Michael Chaves’ horror flick The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and 101 Dalmatians prequel Cruella

Both films are also available to stream via HBO Max and Disney+, respectively.

Meanwhile, Jon M. Chu’s big-screen adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway musical In the Heights earned a disappointing $4.3M this weekend – a 62% decline.

And Godzilla vs. Kong made history this weekend as the second COVID-era release to pass the $100M mark domestically with a total $440.9M since opening in March. 

62% decline: Meanwhile, Jon M. Chu’s big-screen adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway musical In the Heights earned a disappointing $4.3M this weekend