Civil War sets new record with chart-topping debut

Alex Garland’s “Civil War” set a new record for A24, giving the studio its biggest opening weekend in the US.

The dystopian action film starring Kirsten Dunst grossed an impressive $25.7 million in its debut, breaking the record for highest-grossing opening weekend for production and distribution company A24 (via Variety).

That figure is nearly double A24’s previous top opener, 2018’s Hereditary, which grossed $13.6 million in its first weekend.

Related: Civil War’s Kirsten Dunst was ‘proud’ of Jesse Plemons in terrifying scene

With a total cost of $50 million, “Civil War” is also the studio’s most expensive film to date.

Set against the backdrop of the Second American Civil War, the film follows a group of journalists racing to reach the White House before rival factions take power.

Although the film has received widespread critical acclaim (it currently holds an 83% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes), Dunst said she was initially concerned that the positive reception might swing in the other direction.

Related: The End of Civil War Will Haunt You

“I was very afraid of this film coming out and being reviewed because it could go either way. You put yourself out there,” the actor said in an exclusive interview with Digital spy.

“I feel like without risk there is no reward, and Alex is a really provocative filmmaker and someone I’ve wanted to work with for a long time. Let’s just say I was relieved when the reviews came out.”

In our four-star review of the film, we said that “Civil War will be one of the most polarizing films of the year,” adding, “Garland strips everything down to its essentials, avoids a cluttered story, delivers memorable imagery, and explores crucial concepts.”

“Civil War” is now in theaters.

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