Liam Neeson's latest action thriller The Marksman, dominated a quiet Martin Luther King Day box office in the US takin in $3.2 million for three-day weekend and currently standing at $3,905,869.
These numbers are all the more impressive considering that more than half of all cinemas in the US remain closed due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
The Marksman is directed by Robert Lorenz, Clint Eastwood's long-time collaborator (as both a Producer and Assistant Director), and stars Neeson as an Arizona rancher and former Marine who rescues a young boy from the clutches of a Mexican cartel.
Open Road, also the home of Neeson's recent film the Honest Thief, is handling the film in the US. Honest Thief, released in October, opened to a similar $3.7 million take $14 million before transitioning to on-demand platforms.
Neeson's film ended Wonder Woman 1984’s four-weekend rule at the top of the domestic chart.
The Irishman, who recently presented the award for Leading Actress in A Film to Jessie Buckley (Wild Rose) at the Virtual IFTA Awards in October, remains a big draw in the action and thriller genres, despite turning 69 later this year. Read our interview with Liam Neeson.
The Ballymena Native has hinted that he may step away from the genre soon though, telling Entertainment Tonight last week said; “I'm 68 and a half, 69 this year. There's a couple more I'm going to do this year -- hopefully, Covid allowing us -- there's a couple in the pipeline, and then I think that will probably be it. Well, unless I'm on a Zimmer frame or something."
The Marksman is set for a UK and Ireland release on 26th February.