Box Office: ‘Hustlers’ Makes It Rain With $33.2 Million Debut

Hustlers (Credit: STX Films)

Jennifer Lopez worked the pole in stripper drama Hustlers to a record $33.2 million debut at the weekend box office, according to Comscore.

The critically acclaimed drama about a group of former strip club employees who band together to steal from their wealthy Wall Street clients, scored Lopez’s best opening ever for a live-action film, topping the $23.1 million debut of the 2005 comedy Monster-in-Law.

Hustlers also surpassed analyst expectations of $25-28 million, and charted the best opening ever for distributor STX Films.

The cast includes Keke Palmer, Julia Stiles, Lili Reinhart, Madeline Brewer, Constance Wu, Cardi B, Lizzo, and Trace Lysette. The film hails from writer-director Lorene Scafaria, and is inspired by a New York Magazine article titled “The Hustlers at Scores.”

Related Story: ‘Hustlers’ Trailer: Jennifer Lopez Shows Off Her Best Stripper Moves

In addition to starring in Hustlers, Lopez produced the film along with Elaine Goldsmith Thomas, Jessica Elbaum, Benny Medina, Will Ferrell and Adam McKay.

While the crime drama picked up a pile of cash, It Chapter Two took first place at the North American box office for a second straight weekend. The Warner Bros. release, based on a Stephen King novel, picked up another $40.7 million, bringing its two-week total to $153.8 million.

The film features an all-star cast, including James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Jessica Chastain, and Bill Skarsgard, and is directed by Andy Muschietti.

Lionsgate’s Angel Has Fallen took third place with $4.4 million, and Universal’s Good Boys, now in its fifth weekend, earned $4.2 million.

Rounding out the Top 5 was Disney’s The Lion King with $3.5 million. Now in its ninth weekend, the film has made $533.9 in North America.

Box office chart for 9-15-19 (Credit: Comscore)