It’s official … The Color Purple is a runaway holiday box-office success!
Not only is the new musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s classic novel tops at the box office, but the film has also landed the second biggest Christmas Day opening of all time.
According to Variety, the Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks and Taraji P. Henson-led film earned just over $18 million to make it the biggest Christmas Day open in almost fifteen years and only trails Robert Downey Jr.’s 2009 Sherlock Holmes movie which took in $24.6 million.
“I’m so overjoyed today waking up to the news of @thecolorpurple being the largest Christmas Day movie release since 2009,”Fantasia wrote. “Let’s keep filling up the theaters 🙏🏾.”
Though the film was expected to do modestly well, film execs and industry insiders seemed to underestimate the film’s growing buzz as they had predicted an opening in the neighborhood of $8 to 10 million.
Film producer and star of the 1985 classic version, Oprah Winfrey also used Instagram to thank fans for getting the movie off to an “amazing start” at the box office.
“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude,” Oprah wrote. “Thank you so much for everyone that made @thecolorpurple a part of their holiday plans. Y’all made it the #1 movie in theaters on Christmas Day!”
“I know how valuable spending time with your loved ones is, so for y’all to buy tickets, dress up in purple, and show up in droves is filling me up,” she continued. “As you go to the theaters, please tag me in your purple outfits cause I know y’all are understanding the assignment! Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
The Color Purple also stars Halle Bailey, Ciara, Corey Hawkins, David Alan Grier, Deon Cole and H.E.R.
