The space drama Challenge dominated the Russian cinema scene this past weekend, locking in the top spot at movie theaters across the country. Industry outlets tracking box office activity reported a strong finish for the film, underscoring its broad appeal and the momentum it built through spring showings.
According to cinema industry data, from May 18 to May 21, Challenge pulled in 74.3 million rubles. In the chase for audience attention, Adrian Grunberg’s Megalodon claimed second place with 47.9 million rubles earned over the same period. The top three was completed by detective story Khitrovka, directed by Karen Shakhnazarov, which added to its weekend gross with results that placed it high on the chart. The Sign of the Four, released on May 18, accumulated 37.7 million rubles in its initial run.
The weekend in question also reinforced Challenge’s strong performance in Russian theaters, where it had previously led the box office. The film, directed by Klim Shipenko, had already been in release since April 20 and crossed the one-billion-ruble mark within two weeks, marking it as the twentieth Russian production to reach that milestone in the domestic market.
The storyline follows a surgeon who travels to the International Space Station to perform a critical operation on an astronaut. The narrative threads through the dedication of its cast, which includes Yulia Peresild, who also stars in the central role, and Klim Shipenko, who directed the film. The project was presented with English subtitles to widen its accessibility, allowing audiences outside Russia to engage with the tense medical mission unfolding aboard the ISS. The production also featured Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov as part of the on-screen team, bringing a sense of authenticity to the space sequence, while pilot-cosmonaut and celebrated Russian space hero Oleg Novitsky contributed to the film’s cast in a supporting capacity. The result is a cinematic experience that blends high-stakes space drama with human drama on the ground, appealing to fans of science fiction, thrillers, and character-driven storytelling alike.