STX Films The Upside, the Kevin Hart comedy, should become the company’s first No. 1 debut, with an estimated $19.5 million from 3,080 sites, knocking Warner’s “Aquaman” into second place.
STX Films’ previous biggest debut was 2016’s comedy, Bad Moms, starring Mila Kunis, which earned $23.8 million for the No. 3 spot.
The Upside took in $6.95 million on Friday and is looking at a weekend estimate nearly double what the film had initially projected.
Smart move: The movie was recut in order to land a PG-13 rating as opposed to its original R.
The film, which is a remake of the French hit “The Intouchables,” stars Cranston as a wealthy paraplegic with Hart as an unemployed man with a criminal record who’s hired to aid him.
Nicole Kidman, Julianna Margulies, and Aja Naomi King also star, with Neil Burger directing.
Dismissed y critics, The Upside has a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but A CinemaScore from viewers (Hart’s fans).