Box office: ‘The Equalizer’ neutralizes the competition on Friday

The new action-thriller “The Equalizer,” starring two-time Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington, got off to a strong start dominating the box office Friday.

The R-rated film, based on the gritty 1985-89 CBS series starring Edward Woodward, earned an estimated $12.6 million -- including its $1.45-million take Thursday night -- for a per screen average of $3,894.

“The Equalizer” is Washington’s third biggest opening day behind 2007’s “American Gangster” ($15.9 million) and 2012’s “Safe House” ( $13.6 million). The film reunites Washington with Antoine Fuqua, who directed him to his second Oscar in 2001’s “Training Day,” which made over $100 million internationally.

Last week’s No. 1 film, “The Maze Runner,” dropped to second with an estimated $5.2 million for total of $45.7 million.

The weekend’s other new major release, the animated “The Boxtrolls,” placed third with an estimated $4.9 million with a per screen average of $1,424.

The Jason Bateman-Tina Fey comedy, “There is Where I Leave You,” came in fourth with an estimated $2.2 million for an eight-day total of $17.7 million.

And this year’s highest grossing film, “Guardians of the Galaxy,” still remains in the top 10, earning an estimated $1 million in its 57th day of release for a total of $316.4 million.

Twitter: @mymackie