Melissa McCarthy’s R-rated “Spy” captured the top spot at the North American box office with its $30 million debut, dethroning the earthquake epic “San Andreas” and holding off Jason Blum‘s micro-budget horror sequel “Insidious: Chapter 3” and the big-screen version of the HBO TV hit “Entourage,” TheWrap reports.
The debut for “Spy” was enough to hold off Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s disaster saga, which was second with $26.4 million, third-place “Insidious 3” which scared up $23 million and “Entourage,” which debuted with $17.8 million for five days.
McCarthy’s “Spy” opening is better than that of “Tammy,” her last starring role which opened to $21.5 million last July, and “Bridesmaids,” which debuted with $26 million in May of 2011, but it didn’t bring the heat of “The Heat,” her buddy cop comedy with Sandra Bullock. That one was also directed by Paul Feig, produced by Chernin Entertainment and distributed by Fox like “Spy,” and opened to $39 million in June of 2013.
“San Andreas” and two wide openers — the first release of Focus Features’ niche label Gramercy Pictures, “Insidious 3,” and Warner Bros.’ “Entourage” — delivered as expected.
McCarthy’s movies typically have strong legs and “Spy,” which co-stars Jason Statham and Jude Law, is very well-reviewed and at 94 percent positive on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience — which broke down 60 percent female and 65 percent over the age of 25 — gave the comedy a “B+” CinemaScore.
