Denzel Washington’s ‘Equalizer’ shoots to nearly $1.5 million

Action-thriller film “The Equalizer” brought in $1.45 million from Thursday night showings on its way to another strong debut for its star, Denzel Washington.

That studio-estimated tally came from showings that started at 7 p.m. at 2,693 locations. “The Equalizer,” from Sony’s Columbia Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures, is expected to gross $28 million or more through Sunday from its opening in the U.S. and Canada.

Washington’s previous action flick “2 Guns,” costarring Mark Wahlberg, scored $1.3 million on its debut Thursday night last year on its way to a $27-million weekend.

“The Equalizer” is the latest collaboration between Washington and director Antoine Fuqua, whose 2001 picture “Training Day” grossed $28 million in its opening and ended up with $76.6 million from its full domestic run. His performance in that movie earned Washington a best actor Oscar.

Also opening this weekend is “The Boxtrolls,” a family comedy from stop-motion animation company Laika Entertainment. It’s expected to gross $12 million to $16 million this weekend.

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