In its debut weekend in theaters, the new Universal Pictures horror thriller is the new top film in the United States and Canada, grossing slightly over $22 million. Candyman, directed by Nia DaCosta, surpassed the lowball prediction of $15 million.
Nia DaCosta has paved the way for Black women in the entertainment industry.
Nia DaCosta makes Candyman the first film directed by a Black woman to debut at number one, despite the fact that others have come close. Ava DuVernay (“Selma,” “A Wrinkle in Time”) and Gina Prince-Blythewood (“Love and Basketball”) all had weekend debuts in the number two spot.
Universal hoped to lure Black viewers with a film with the same provenance as Get Out and Us, according to Indiewire. The appeal, on the other hand, was broader.
According to a survey conducted by Universal Studios, 37% of the audience was Black, 30% was White, 22% were Latinos, and 5% were Asians. The diversity of the group was crucial in obtaining the greater number.
The original film, based on a short tale by Clive Barker, was about an urban legend about a slave’s killed kid reappearing and going on a murderous spree.
The next film, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, continues to investigate the urban legend that claims that saying “Candyman” five times in front of a mirror will summon the hook-handed murderer. Unlike the 1992 film, however, this one features a Black creative team of writers and producers, including Jordan Peele.
