After two weeks of preshows, Gran Turismo has raced into the big screen this weekend. And it would seem that many in the audience have a need for speed. 

The newest film from Neill Blomkamp was supposed to come out on August 11th but faced delays due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Because of the strike, the actors in the film, led by David Harbour and Orlando Bloom, could not promote it. Instead of delaying the film indefinitely, Sony decided to push the release date out two weeks and use sneak previews and fan screenings to generate buzz through word of mouth. And, as the Hollywood Reporter states, it paid off well. 

Gran Turismo is shaping up to top this weekend’s box office, taking in $17.3 million. That estimate also includes a whopping $3.9 million from its sneak previews. The industry isn’t a stranger to using sneak preview showings for promotional material, but this strategy is a rare tactic with unpredictable results.

Without the preshow gross, box office juggernaut Barbie would have taken the cake this weekend. Early numbers put it on track for a total of $17.1 million this weekend, leading it to surpass the $600 million mark at some point this upcoming week. 

The third place is looking to be held by Blue Beetle. As it moves into its second weekend, it’s on track to pull in between $9.5-$12 million. 

Fourth place looks to be Christopher Nolan’s newest picture, Oppenheimer. This weekend, it’s looking to take home $9 million, pushing its domestic total to $299 million. The film has also passed Inception to be Nolan’s third highest-grossing film, behind The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. 

With these estimates, it’s important to remember that the numbers could shift from the present to Monday due to National Cinema Day this Sunday. All day, participating theaters are slashing prices for any movie of any format to a mere $4. 

For further box office updates, stay with us here. 

Deadline Charting:

1.) Gran Turismo (Sony)  3-day $17.3M/Wk 1

2.) Barbie (WB)  3-day $17.1M (-19%)/Wk 6

3.) Blue Beetle (WB)  3-day $12.7M (-49%)/Wk 2

4.) Oppenheimer (Uni) 3-day $9M (-16%)/Wk 6

5.) Teenage Mutanta Ninja Turtles…(Par)  3-day $6.1M (-29%)/Wk 4

6.) The Meg 2: The Trench (WB) 3-day $5.1M (-25%)/ Wk 4

7.) Strays (Uni)  3-day $4.65M (-44%)/ Wk 2

8.) Retribution (Road) 3-day $3.348M/Wk 1

9.) Talk to Me (A24) 3-day $3.12M (-38%)/Wk 4

10.) The Hill (Briar)  3-day $2.515M/ Wk 1