The number one spot in the North American Box Office belongs to 20th Century Fox’s Hidden Figures. Final numbers as of this morning had Hidden Figures earning $22.8 million at 2,471 sites. These numbers denied Disney/Lucasfilm a fourth consecutive week at the top with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
While early estimates suggested that Hidden Figures would only take in anywhere from $16 million to $18 million, the comedy-drama and award season contender had other plans, generating an A+ CinemaScore in all categories according to Fox’s domestic distribution chief Chris Aronson.
Hidden Figures is based on a true story about a team of African-American women who provide NASA with important mathematical data needed to launch the program’s first successful space missions. The film stars Taraji P. Henson as Katherine Johnson, Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughan, and Janelle Monae as Mary Jackson. Spencer was up for a Golden Globe last night for the supporting actress category, but lost to her Help co-star Viola Davis (Fences).