On its second weekend, Straight Outta Compton became a bona fide phenomenon. The F. Gary Gray film based on the rise and the many falls and controversies surrounding the hip-hop pioneers N.W.A. had three new entries to compete with: Sinister 2, Hitman: Agent 47 and, most importantly, American Ultra, which confirmed that the presence of Kristen Stewart of Twilight fame in a movie is not enough to draw audiences. These three new films went after the same under-25 demographic but could not compete with the (almost) real life adventures of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and friends (and enemies). The result: Straight Outta Compton took an extra $26 million, finishing the weekend with an astounding total of
$115 million.
Then there will be the overseas markets. So far Compton has only reached Slovenia and Norway, but next week the film debuts in Germany and in the UK. Straight Outta Compton is also the seventh title by Universal to pass the $100 million mark, making 2015 a banner year for the studio. One of these winning pictures is of course Minions, with a worldwide total that as we publish this article may have crossed the $1 billion mark.
 
These have been good days for another holdover: Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. On his fifth week as agent Ethan Hunt, Cruise ended up in second place, adding almost $12 million for a total domestic that is now at $158 million. Rogue Nation was also the No. 2 picture internationally, adding this weekend $25 million for a global total of $440 million. It was number one in France with $3.1 million, in Italy with $2.4 million. And it keeps making good money in Korea ($40 million so far), in Japan ($27 million), in the UK ($26 million). And then there is China, where Cruise’s franchise will open on September 8. There’s another old-timer that, until a few months ago, was considered a has-been and, in the past few days, has been having his last laugh: Arnold Schwarzenegger. His Terminator Genisys has opened in China, in 25,000 theaters (yes, it’s not a typo: twenty-five thousand!) and it made $25 million. Genisys’ international total is now $264 million, its global
$335 million.
 
The third spot went to one of the newcomers, Sinister 2. It’s a Blumhouse production, meaning: it’s another horror movie. Even though it made just above $10 million, Sinister 2 cost so little to produce that it will generate a very good return on the investment.
 
Fourth place went to Hitman: Agent 47, a video game adaptation. Another adaptation, this one from a 60s TV show, rounds up the top five: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The Guy Ritchie spy film earned $7.5 million domestically, for a $26 million total. It’s the same amount it has reached internationally, which is not a very good number for a film that reportedly cost close to $90 million to produce.
 
Next week the eyes will be on two new titles: the Zac Efron drama We Are Your Friends. And No Escape, a political action film with Owen Wilson and Pierce Brosnan and produced by The Weinstein Co. The attention will be also on Straight Outta Compton, who could end up holding the top spot after three weeks in release.
Lorenzo Soria