‘Ocean’s 8’ gets female audience and topples ‘Solo’

NEW YORK - “Ocean’s 8,’’ the female overhaul of the starry heist franchise, opened with an estimated $41.5 million at the box office, taking the weekend’s top spot from the fast-falling “Solo: A Star Wars Story.’’

“Ocean’s 8’’ - despite ho-hum reviews - found nothing like the stormy reception that greeted the female-led “Ghostbusters’’ reboot on the same weekend two years ago.

Made with approximately $70 million, “Ocean’s 8’’ and its cast featuring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway set an opening-weekend best for the franchise, not accounting for inflation. The three previous “Ocean’s’’ films - starring Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Matt Damon, and based on the 1960 original “Ocean’s 11,’’ with Frank Sinatra - all debuted with between $36-39 million.

“Ocean’s 8,’’ also starring Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter, drew a largely female audience - 69 percent - for a result that slightly surpassed expectations.

The horror thriller “Hereditary,’’ starring Toni Collette, debuted with $13 million. The feature-film directing debut of Ari Aster, “Hereditary’’ has received rave reviews and been hailed as the year’s scariest movie since its debut at the Sundance Film Festival. Less successful was “Hotel Artemis,’’ starring Jodie Foster. The Global Road release flopped with $3.2 million in 2,407 theaters. Set in a near-future Los Angeles, “Hotel Artemis’’ is about a members-only hospital for criminals.

AP