Zendaya’s tennis film ‘Challengers’ dominates the weekend box office

The sizzling tennis drama “Challengers” served up a smashing victory at the box office this weekend, raking in an impressive $15 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. The film, directed by Luca Guadagnino, stars Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor in a steamy and competitive love triangle between tennis players.

Zendaya, who has been on a whirlwind press tour promoting the film, has proven to be a major draw for audiences, with 55% citing her as the reason for seeing the movie. In fact, Zendaya’s star power was evident as her movies accounted for a significant 26% of the overall box office this weekend, including the re-release of “Dune: Part Two” in IMAX.

The 27-year-old actor, known for her roles in blockbuster franchises like “Spider-Man” and “Dune,” faced her first solo leading role in “Challengers.” The decision to release the film this weekend was a strategic move by the studio, originally planning for a fall 2023 release, but moving it up due to a strike by actors last July.

With positive reviews and a strong opening weekend performance, “Challengers” is on track to become Guadagnino’s highest-grossing film, surpassing the success of “Call Me By Your Name.” For Amazon MGM Studios, the film’s success extends beyond the box office, driving downstream value for the studio, including its eventual release on Prime Video.

In second place at the box office was the faith-based film “Unsung Hero,” based on the true story of the Smallbone family and their rise in the country music scene. The Lionsgate film, directed by Joel Smallbone, scored a rare A+ CinemaScore and has garnered a 100% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, appealing to a predominantly female and older audience.