Box office: ‘Straight Outta Compton’ scores $5 million Thursday night

The N.W.A film “Straight Outta Compton� had a good day at the box office.

Starting off what’s likely to be a big debut weekend, the hip-hop origin story took in an impressive $4.95 million in domestic ticket sales Thursday night. Showings started at 8 p.m. at about 2,300 theaters.

The Universal Pictures movie, co-financed by Legendary Pictures, is likely to top $40 million in the U.S. and Canada through Sunday, according to analysts who reviewed pre-release audience surveys going into the weekend.

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N.W.A members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre are credited as producers on the movie about the famed rap group known for its provocative lyrics.

The cast of mostly unknowns includes Ice Cube’s lookalike son O’Shea Jackson Jr. playing his father, Corey Hawkins as Dre and Jason Mitchell as Eazy-E.

“Straight Outta Compton� has pull among black and white males audiences, according to tracking, and it has also won over critics, indicated by an 87% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Warner Bros.’ new Guy Ritchie film “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,� also opening this weekend, landed $900,000 Thursday night. The action-adventure film from the “Snatch� director, based on the 1960s espionage TV series, could gross up to $16 million.

Follow Ryan Faughnder on Twitter for more entertainment business coverage: @rfaughnder

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