Here’s a tip: Never bring a Smurf sequel to a gun fight.
The Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg action pic 2 Guns proved to be a stronger contender this weekend than originally expected and walked away with an estimated $10 million on its first Friday in 3,025 theaters.
Directed by Baltasar Kormákur (The Deep), the $61 million movie finds a DEA agent and a naval intelligence officer on the run together after a failed attempt to infiltrate a drug cartel. At least at first, neither knows that the other is also undercover. Kormákur’s Contraband, which also starred Wahlberg, opened in January of 2012 at $24.3 million. While Wahlberg may be an erratic performer at the box office, Washington is more reliable — the actor’s last six movies all opened above $20 million. As recently as Thursday, Universal predicted a $20 million opening, which seems modest now, as 2 Guns will likely easily win the weekend with at least $30 million.
