Biopic of iconic rappers blows away projections with $24.2 million Friday and leaves “Man From U.N.C.L.E.” in dust

“Straight Outta Compton” blasted past analysts’ estimates with $24.2 million in its box office debut Friday, and is heading for a huge $57 million weekend for Universal Pictures. The weekend race will be a blowout, with “Man From U.N.C.L.E.” a very distant second with roughly $5 million Friday.

“Straight Outta Compton” is on track to become Universal’s sixth film to hit No. 1 this year and it propelled the studio past the $2 billion mark at the domestic box office in record time.  Universal overtakes the speed record previously held by Warner Bros., which reached $2 billion on Dec. 25, 2009, the studio is also  and is also poised to cross the all-time domestic record later this year–also set by Warner Bros. in 2009 ($2.1 billion).