The N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton was one of the biggest films of the summer, and it has already been announced as the highest grossing musical biopic of all time. Now it has been announced as the highest grossing film by a black director ever, giving F. Gary Gray his place in the history books.
The film took $161.1 million in the US and $38.9 million internationally, with release dates in four more territories, including Russia and Spain, yet to come. Taking $200 million so far around the world, Straight Outta Compton puts F. Gary Gray far in front of the previously highest grossing black director, Keenen Ivory Wayans, whose 2000 film Scary Movie took $157 million globally, and Tim Story, whose Fantastic Four took $154.6 million in 2005.
Universal have had seven films reach the $200 million mark in 2015, including Furious 7, the latest iteration of The Fast and the Furious franchise, which F. Gary Gray will direct the follow up to, Furious 8, in 2017, perhaps giving him an opportunity to smash his own record.