Ryan Reynolds' Free Guy amasses $28.4M opening as Jennifer Hudson's Respect takes third place

Ryan Reynolds’ thrice-delayed comedy Free Guy topped the box office this weekend with an impressive $28.4M opening domestically and $22.5M overseas.

On Saturday, the 44-year-old action star celebrated Disney officially confirming it wants a sequel.

‘And after three years of messaging #FreeGuy as an original IP movie, Disney confirmed [Saturday] it officially wants the sequel,’ Ryan – who boasts 79.2M social media followers – Instastoried.  

$50.9M total! Ryan Reynolds’ thrice-delayed comedy Free Guy topped the box office this weekend with an impressive $28.4M opening domestically and $22.5M overseas

‘If it isn’t called Albuquerque Boiled Turkey” we’ve failed.’

In Shawn Levy’s PG-13 video game-set flick, Reynolds plays a bank teller/NPC Guy opposite Jodie Comer’s Millie Rusk/Molotov Girl.

Free Guy received a ‘certified fresh’ 82% critic approval rating (out of 198 reviews) and 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

‘It’s been a labour of love for *checks notes* a very strange three years,’ the Grammy nominee gushed last Tuesday.    

Blockbuster: On Saturday, the 44-year-old action star celebrated Disney officially confirming it wants a sequel

Ryan Instastoried: ‘And after three years of messaging #FreeGuy as an original IP movie, Disney confirmed [Saturday] it officially wants the sequel. If it isn’t called Albuquerque Boiled Turkey” we’ve failed’

Buddy movie: In Shawn Levy’s PG-13 video game-set flick, Reynolds plays a bank teller/NPC Guy opposite Jodie Comer’s Millie Rusk/Molotov Girl

‘I had so much fun making this film!’ Free Guy received a ‘certified fresh’ 82% critic approval rating (out of 198 reviews) and 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes

‘I’m so glad #FreeGuy will finally bring its unique brand of feel-good mayhem to the big screen. I had so much fun making this film and I hope you feel the same watching it.’

Free Guy also features Lil Rel Howery, Joe Keery, Taika Waititi, Hugh Jackman, Dwayne Johnson, Tina Fey, John Krasinski, and the late Alex Trebek.

In second place was producer Rodo Sayagues’ directorial debut Don’t Breathe 2 with $10.6M despite dismal reviews – according to THR.

The home-invasion horror sequel stars Stephen Lang, Brendan Sexton III, and Madelyn Grace. 

Home-invasion horror sequel: In second place was producer Rodo Sayagues’ directorial debut Don’t Breathe 2 with $10.6M despite dismal reviews

Queen of Soul biopic: Liesl Tommy’s feature directorial debut Respect, starring Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin, landed in third place for its opening weekend with $8.8M

Liesl Tommy’s feature directorial debut Respect, starring Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin, landed in third place for its opening weekend with $8.8M.

The musical biopic on the Queen of Soul received mixed reviews and THR reported that 45% of the audience was African-American with the majority being older females.

Jaume Collet-Serra’s Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Emily Blunt, came in fourth despite mixed reviews. 

Only earned $138.6M of its $200M budget back: Jaume Collet-Serra’s Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Emily Blunt, came in fourth despite mixed reviews

Earned $7.8M: James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad dropped to fifth place despite being the best reviewed of the films with a 91% critic approval rating (out of 305 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes

However, the Disney theme park-inspired movie has only earned $138.6M of its $200M budget back in its third week in theaters and Disney+.

James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad dropped to fifth place despite being the best reviewed of the films with a 91% critic approval rating (out of 305 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes.

The star-studded $185M-budget antihero flick, featuring Margot Robbie and Idris Elba, only earned $7.8M bringing the total box office to $87.6M.