The Sandra Bullock-George Clooney space drama Gravity rocketed to the top of the US box office and into industry record books during its opening weekend.
The Warner Bros adventure debuted with $55.55 million in North American ticket sales, according to studio estimates – the biggest October opening ever and the biggest openings for Bullock and Clooney. The film also dominated the international box office, adding another $27.4 million overseas.
“It’s all good news,” said Dan Fellman, Warner Bros president of domestic distribution. He credited director and co-writer Alfonso Cuaron, who takes viewers into orbit with a story set almost entirely in space that explores challenges faced by two astronauts during a spacewalk. Cuaron’s team developed equipment and technology to replicate the weightlessness of space.
“It’s never been seen before, visual effects like this,” Fellman said.
