Weekend Box Office: Denzel Out-Neesons Neeson For $35 Million

TheEqualizerwasoneofthoseaging-hardass-kills-bad-guystypemoviesthatcouldgoeitherwayattheboxoffice–sleeperhitorsleepersleeper–anditendedupbeingtheformer. TheEqualizergrossedanestimated$35milliondomestically,splittingthedifferencebetweenTaken’s$24millionopeningandTaken2‘s$49.5million.Takingadvantageofthelullbeforeawardsseasonhits,it’sDenzel’sbestopeningsinceSafeHouse($40millionin2012),andthethirdbestofhiscareer,behindAmericanGangster($43m)andSafeHouse.