Numbers-Don’t-Lie ::: Red Tails Debuts Lands #2 At Box Office

Red Tails, a movie chronicling the lives of the Tuskegee airmen in World War II who fought the Nazi’s and against racism in the United States, did much better than expected this past weekend. Due to lack of support from big producers, the movie was self funded by the producer George Lucas (Star Wars, Indiana Jones) with a capital of $58 million. But with the movie only out for four days, and already the #2 movie in America with $19.1 million, it looks like Lucas’s investment will be well worth it. The movie raised a lot of skepticism due to it’s all black cast, starring Terrance Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., Ne-Yo, Tristan Wilds and Method Man but it looks like they are doing a pretty good job so far especially with the support of some noted celebrities.

Oprah, Snoop Dogg, Sherri Shepard, Taraji. P Henson, Kelly Rowland, Lance Gross, Kerry Washington and filmmaker Spike Lee all voiced their support via twitter. President George H.W. Bush and President Obama also hosted personal screenings of the film. Tyler Perry wrote an open letter to voice his support saying,

“I think we should pull together and get behind this movie. I really do! Not just African Americans, but all of us. I have seen the movie and screened it here in Atlanta. I loved it and I think you will too. The Tuskegee Airmen who were at the screening, were so happy that somebody is telling a small part of their story. Please take your kid, you will enjoy it and so will they. There is a lot of action and adventure and also a great history lesson to be learned.”

Ne-Yo gifted the first 200 fans to arrive at the AMC 42 St theater with tickets to see the movie.

The movie fell short of the #1 spot by a mere $6.3 million, tailing behind the Kate Beckinsale werewolf/vampire saga Underworld Awakening. If you checked the movie out over the weekend, did ‘Red Tails’ live up to all of its hype?

[E! | Singer’s Room | Rolling Out]

– @Ayo_Leslo