Weekend Box Office: The Girl on the Train Tops The Birth of a Nation

The Girl on the Train, the psychological thriller starring Emily Blunt, brought in $24.7 million this weekend, putting it at the top of North American box office sales, according to the Associated Press.

It far surpassed Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation, which opened with just $7.1 million. This was a disappointing showing for the Nat Turner biopic, which secured a record $17.5 million at its Sundance Film Festival premiere, but has since been surrounded by controversy after previous rape allegations against Parker resurfaced. Parker has maintained he is innocent and was acquitted in 2001.

By contrast, The Girl on the Train seemed to get a boost from fans of the best-selling book it was based on. The movie saw heavy support from female movie fans, who made up 68% of its audience, the AP reports.