JANUARY 9, 2015 | 08:16AM PT
Dave McNary
Film Reporter
@Variety_DMcNary
Liam Neeson starrer “Taken 3″ has launched with $1.6 million Thursday night, showing at 2,499 U.S. locations for 20th Century Fox.
The figure just beats the $1.5 million for “Taken 2″ from Thursday evening shows in 2012 and is comparable to the $1.7 million for “Lone Survivor” in its Thursday evening shows a year ago. “Lone Survivor” went on to open with $37.8 million in its first weekend.
“Taken 3″ has been forecast to debut to roughly $30 million this weekend at 3,593 locations. The picture carries a $48 million budget and was financed by EuropaCorp, with Fox handling distribution.
Neeson is reprising his role as a former covert operative who’s on the run after being framed for the murder of his wife.
“Taken 2″ kicked off with $49.5 million in its opening weekend in 2012 on its way to a $145 million U.S. total, while the original “Taken” bowed to $24.7 million in 2009 and closed with $139 million.
UPDATE, 9:13 a.m. — Paramount’s expansion of Oscar contender “Selma” grossed $400,000 in Thursday evening shows at over 1,600 locations.
“Selma” is expected to finish second with about $15 million as it goes from 22 theaters to 2,179. Thanks to stellar reviews, “Selma” has brought in an impressive $2.1 million from the 22 locations since it opened on Christmas.
The fourth weekend of New Line-MGM’s “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” should finish in third place with about $13 million for the weekend. The trilogy finale grossed $1.4 million on Thursday to lift the U.S. gross to $227.1 million after 23 days.
