The action-comedy Central Intelligence, teaming Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, launched with a solid $1.8 million during Thursday previews.
A star vehicle for Johnson and Hart, appearing together for the first time, the old-fashioned action comedy is projected to open to $30 million at 3,508 sites. This is a sturdy debut, underlining the appeal of Johnson and Hart.
In the comedy realm, few actors have been as consistent draws as Hart, who can claim “The Wedding Ringer,” “Get Hard” and “Ride Along” among his hits.
At the same time, Johnson has emerged as one of the most bankable action headliners with “San Andreas” and “Furious 7.”
Both are indefatigable promoters, prized by studios for going anywhere to talk up their new films.
In Central Intelligence, Johnson plays a high-school geek who grows up to be a crack CIA agent. He enlists his high-school buddy Hart to help him on a mission.
New Line is releasing the film domestically and Universal is handling the international markets for a production that cost $50 million film.
Central Intelligence reviews have been mixed with a 67 percent rating on the Rotten Tomatoes meter.
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