Michelle Rodríguez’s “Battle: LA” Shoots to Number One Thanks to Latino Audience
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}at the premiere of Columbia Pictures' "Battle: Los Angeles" at the Village Theater on March 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (2011 Getty Images)
Michelle Rodríguez’s “Battle: LA” conquered the world, as it shot to number one in the box office its opening weekend.
With a strong debut of $36 million, the sci-fi action flick recalls its 2009 Oscar-nominated hit, "District 9."
"It's kind of like having a summer film in the spring," said Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution at Sony.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"From the beginning, this was a film we were excited about."
Bruer also credits the movie’s triumphant weekend thanks to a diverse cast, which includes Latina actress Michelle Rodríguez and others like African-American R&B singer Ne-Yo, as first reported by the LA Times.
"From everything we've seen, it was certainly resonating very strongly with Hispanic and African American audiences,” Bruer told the LA Times.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The diversity of the cast was perfect," he said.
Rodríguez plays Corporal Adriana Santos who helps a veteran soldier lead a platoon of Marines in combat against an invasion of aliens.
Trailing in closely behind “Battle: LA” is "Rango" starring Spaniard actor Alfred Molina. In its second week of release, the animated Western spoof came in second, adding $23.1 million for a cumulative total of $68.7 million.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The critically acclaimed Paramount Pictures film appeared on its way to surpassing $100 million.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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