Straight Outta Compton Shoots To Top Of U.s. Box Office

The F. Gary Gray movie, which documents the rise of the groundbreaking rap group in the 1980s, was initially projected to gross around $25 million (£15.6 million) in North America upon its launch, but the film started off strong with just under $5 million (£3.1 million) in previews on Thursday (13Aug15), and added another $24.3 million (£15.2 million) on Friday (14Aug15), making it the fourth-highest opening day gross ever for an August release, according to Deadline.com.

Straight Outta Compton, co-produced by N.w.a. icons Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, was made on a budget of just $29 million (£18.1 million).

Celebrating the news on Twitter on Sunday (16Aug15), Ice Cube, who was played onscreen by his son, O'Shea Jackson, Jr., writes, "Thank you for making us #1 this weekend!"

Meanwhile, Guy Ritchie's $80 million (£50 million) movie adaptation of classic 1960s spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. failed to impress - the Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer action thriller took a disappointing $13.5 million (£8.4 million) to debut in third place, behind Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation at two with $17 million (£10.6 million).

The Fantastic Four reboot and The Gift round out the new top five.