Proving that a midrange adult drama can still pay off for a Hollywood studio, David Fincher's Gone Girl has eclipsed The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to become the filmmaker's top-grossing film in North America, not accounting for inflation.
Through Friday, Oct 31 Gone Girl's domestic gross is $129.6 million, compared to $127.5 million for Benjamin Button, released in 2008.
Gone Girl, based on Gillian Flynn's book, also marks one of Ben Affleck's best showings as a leading man. The 20th Century Fox thriller is on the verge of passing up Affleck's Oscar-winning Argo, which grossed $136 million in North America in 2012 (Gone Girl will tie with Argo sometime over Halloween weekend).
Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry also star.
Worldwide, the $61 million film has earned $256.7 million through Friday, making it Fincher's No. 3 title behind Benjamin Button ($333.9 million) and Seven ($327.3 million), again not accounting for inflation.
Gone Girl has enjoyed a remarkable hold, and is expected to top out at $150 million domestically, as well as having a shot at hitting $300 million worldwide.