Paramount Pictures’ Bob Marley: One Love hit the screens across 3,500 theaters in the US, raking in a solid $14 million in ticket sales on Wednesday, February 14th.
This impressive debut instantly secured its place as the top-grossing midweek Valentine’s Day release to date. The record previously belonged to 2012’s The Vow ($11.5 million).
Audiences gave the film an A CinemaScore, and it boasted a perfect 5 out of 5 rating on Comscore PostTrak.
According to Boxoffice Pro analyst Shawn Robbins, early projections suggest a robust opening weekend haul in the range of $30 million to $40 million.
This biopic marks the first time that Bob Marley’s life and musical journey is being showcased on the big screen.
Produced in partnership with the Marley family, the film stars Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley, alongside Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley, and James Norton as Chris Blackwell.
Jamaicans featured in the movie include musicians Naomi Cowan, J-Summa, Aston Barrett Jr., Hector Roots Lewis, Sheldon Shepherd, and singer Sevana.
Filming took place in London, where Marley spent those critical years, and Jamaica.
The film is being regarded as a pivotal moment for Jamaica’s tourism and film sectors, according to Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett.
Moviegoers give rave reviews
Exit surveys revealed an overwhelmingly positive response, with a staggering 80% of moviegoers expressing a strong inclination to recommend the movie to others. On top of that, Bob Marley: One Love is riding high with a stellar 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Looking beyond US borders, the film is set to make waves internationally, with premieres scheduled in 47 markets this week, including Australia, Benelux, Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico, Scandinavia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Fans in Italy can mark their calendars for February 22nd, while audiences in Korea and Japan can anticipate releases on March 14th and May 10th, respectively, as the film continues to captivate audiences worldwide throughout the spring season.
