'Divergent' Owns Box Office: Has The Sci-Fi Blockbuster Earned Its Sequels?
Divergent has emerged as the weekend's top movie at the box office after sweeping in $56 million, according to estimates from Box Office Mojo. Adapted from Veronica Roth's best-selling YA fiction series, the dystopian sci-fi film follows life through the eyes of a rather special teenager, Tris (played by Shailene Woodley), and has struck a chord with a huge movie audience.
'Divergent' Has Attracted A Monster Audience In Its First Weekend.
There wasn't even a close contender to the Neil Burger-directed blockbuster, which also stars Kate Winslet, Theo James and Maggie Q. The Muppets Most Wanted debuted in a far second with $16.5 million, knocking the shine from the eagerly-anticipated new Kermit and Miss Piggy instalment. Last week's number one, the tremendously successful Mr. Peabody & Sherman cartoon, was handed a nonetheless respectable third place, having earned $11.7 million.
The Sci-Fi Movie Stomped On The Hopes Of Contenders, Including 'The Muppets Most Wanted.'
Last week's Divergent news focussed on the less-than enthusiastic reviews from early critics. As with many teen-driven action franchises, the reviewers haven't been enamoured with a drawn-out script, sketchy plotline and unbelievable characters highlighted as major flaws in the Divergent universe.
Watch The 'Divergent' Trailer:
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Shailene Woodley stars as Tris, a teenager who finds out she is "divergent," meaning she doesn't fit neatly into any of the society's pre-ordained factions. This news could have been a death sentence in a community eager to eradicate any anomalies but instead Tris joins a host of other divergents and trains to fight to be ready for a hostile world.
More: Author Veronica Roth talks about her smash-hit franchise in out featurette - click to watch.