Filmed in space aboard the International Space Station, The Challenge set new box office records in Russia and the CIS, generating 426 million rubles in its opening weekend. Portal cites kinobusiness.com for the report.
Last weekend, John Wick 4 secured the second spot in the rankings, continuing its run in Russian theaters for a fifth week. The action epic earned 31.3 million rubles over the most recent weekend and has accumulated 936.7 million rubles across its entire rental period in the region.
In third place, the film Misanthrop tallied 15 million rubles during its debut weekend in Russia and the CIS. The numbers reflect solid audience interest as viewers weigh what each title offers on the big screen.
Klim Shipenko, who directed The Challenge, carries vivid memories of his time in space during filming and the surreal sensation of weightlessness. Those experiences shaped his approach to directing the project and influenced the movie’s visual storytelling as crews worked under extraordinary conditions aboard the ISS.
Reflecting on the production, the general director of Channel One, Konstantin Ernst, explained the rationale behind giving Klim Shipenko the helm of a project with portions shot in space. The decision underscored a commitment to pushing cinematic boundaries and delivering a film that blends real space imagery with a compelling story for audiences both at home and beyond.