‘Hustlers’ Exceeds Expectations With $33 Million Box Office Debut

Hustlers grossed a whopping $33.2 million at the box office over its opening weekend, out-performing initial expectations,

While it wasn’t the top movie of the weekend (that honor once again went to IT Chapter Two), it was still a winner for STX Entertainment. Forbes reports it’s the biggest opening weekend ever for a live-action Jennifer Lopez movie, and the biggest ever opening weekend for STX Entertainment. It also marked a major moment for diversity in Hollywood. Among movies that feature multiple women of color in lead roles, Hustlers had the biggest opening weekend ever.

Written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, the buzz-worthy film is based on a New York magazine article about a group of NYC strippers who start conning their male clientele after the 2008 recession leaves them scrambling. The dramedy stars Constance Wu, Lopez, Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, Cardi B, and Lizzo. 

According to Forbes, if the rest of Hustlers’ theatrical run plays like Girls Trip—which earned $115 million from a $31 million debut—then the J. Lo-starring movie could end up with $122 million. If it plays like Ocean’s 8 ($140 million/$41 million), then Hustlers will earn around $111 million.

Earlier this month, rumors were circulating that Wu and Lopez had been feuding on and off the Hustlers set. Wu had already clarified in an interview with The Guardian that she and J Lo got along swimmingly,  but Scafaria made sure to once again shut down the gossip in a brief chat with BuzzFeed.

“Honestly when I heard about it, it was such an insult to my set, because I don’t run things like that,” Scafaria said. “Jennifer and Constance really did have that chemistry and that relationship right away. It’s kind of hard to fake that, to be honest.”