The Sci-Fi action thriller “Elysium” starring Mexican actor Diego Luna and Matt Damon topped the box office this weekend. The Neill Blomkamp blockbuster which cost $115 million to make raked in $30.5 million which Sony Studios expected. Blomkamp’s previous $30 million film “District 9,” opened August 2009 with $37.4 million.
The film is set in the 2154 where the privileged live on a space station named “Elysium” while the rest of humanity lives on a devastated, diseased and overpopulated planet. Damon plays Max, an ex-con factory worker suffering from lethal radiation exposure. “Elysium” also deals with themes of wealth inequality, health care and immigration.
Luna who plays Julio, a rebel trying to help Max travel to the “Elysium,” where he can get medical care after being exposed to radiation took the role without even reading the script.
“My agent told me to never do that again – it’s a good idea to read the script before you say, ‘yes’. But I am a huge fan of Neill’s work, and the chance to work with a young guy who has so much to say and is so clear about his vision was amazing,” he said.
“Elysium” took the No.1 spot with three other new wide releases: the R-rated Warner Bros. comedy “We’re the Millers,” starring Jason Sudeikis and Aniston ($26.6 million over the weekend, a strong $38 million since opening Tuesday night); Disney’s “Cars” spinoff “Planes” ($22.5 million) and Fox’s fantasy sequel “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” ($14.6 million over the weekend, $23.5 million since Wednesday).
