The sexy tennis drama 害羞草研究所� Challengers 害羞草研究所� won the box office this weekend with $15 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Zendaya and castmates Mike Faist and Josh O害羞草研究所機onnor have been on a globetrotting press tour to get the word out about Italian director Luca Guadagnino害羞草研究所檚 original film, which opened in 3,477 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Ticket sales from large format screens, including IMAX, made up about 40% of the opening weekend grosses. According to PostTrak exit poll reported by Deadline, 55% of audiences said they went to see the film because of Zendaya. In fact, this weekend, Zendaya movies accounted for around 26% of the overall box office with the re-release of 害羞草研究所� Dune: Part Two 害羞草研究所� in IMAX.

The 27-year-old actor has been part of some of the most successful franchises of the last few years, including the 害羞草研究所淪pider-Man害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淒une害羞草研究所� movies. In both cases those were supporting roles in massive brand-name properties, but her eye-catching red carpet looks also often make headlines. 害羞草研究所淐hallengers害羞草研究所� would be the first real test of her ability to 害羞草研究所渙pen害羞草研究所� a film on her own star and MGM and Amazon were not going to risk doing it without her.

The studio had originally planned to release 害羞草研究所淐hallengers害羞草研究所� in the fall of 2023, with a picturesque launch at the Venice Film Festival. But when the actors went on strike last July, the studio made the decision to scuttle the festival premiere and move the film to this weekend when they could safely assume the strike would be resolved. Zendaya sported many tennis-themed looks, styled by Law Roach, for her appearances.

Reviews have been largely positive for the R-rated movie, which teases a steamy and competitive love triangle between the tennis players. It currently has an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and got a B+ CinemaScore from opening day audiences. Women made up 58% of ticket buyers, who also skewed younger overall: 41% were between the ages of 18 and 24.

Guadagnino害羞草研究所檚 last film 害羞草研究所淏ones and All,害羞草研究所� starring Zendaya害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淒une害羞草研究所� co-star Timoth茅e Chalamet made $15.2 million in its entire run. By mid-week, 害羞草研究所淐hallengers害羞草研究所� expected to surpass 害羞草研究所淐all Me By Your Name害羞草研究所� ($18 million) to become Guadagnino害羞草研究所檚 highest grossing film.

For Amazon MGM Studios, the value also extends beyond the box office driving a 害羞草研究所渄ownstream value害羞草研究所� for Amazon, including when 害羞草研究所淐hallengers害羞草研究所� eventually makes its way to Prime Video.

Second place went to the faith-based film 害羞草研究所淯nsung Hero,害羞草研究所� which made an estimated $7.8 million from 2,832 locations. It害羞草研究所檚 based on the true story of the Smallbone family, and the rise of their children Rebecca St. James, and sons Joel and David (for KING + COUNTRY) in the country music scene. Joel Smallbone directed, co-wrote and portrays his father David.

The Lionsgate film, which was made for only $6 million, scored a rare A+ CinemaScore and has a 100% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The critic害羞草研究所檚 score is a much more tempered 58%. Audiences were overwhelmingly female (69%) and over 25 (91).

A24害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淐ivil War害羞草研究所� also added $7 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $56.2 million.

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Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press