It was a huge weekend in the UK for the women of “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.” According to The Guardian, the film scored big at the box office, earning £4.4 million (about $5.7 million in U.S. dollars) over its debut weekend.
For the uninitiated: “Absolutely Fabulous” was a BBC sitcom created by Jennifer Saunders, which starred Saunders and Joanna Lumley as Edina and Patsy, two heavy-drinking, promiscuous PR agents. The series premiered in 1992 and aired for three seasons. But thanks to popular demand a revival of the series was launched, running from 2001 to 2004. The last time we caught up with the lovable trainwrecks was an anniversary special that aired in 2012.
If the opening weekend is any sign, the “Ab Fab” movie has been a long-awaited return for the hilarious duo. In fact, it can now boast the biggest UK film opening since last year’s James Bond outing “Spectre.”
As The Guardian writes, “The sitcom spin-off is said to have benefited from better-than-expected reviews, while releasing during Euro 2016 was always going to boost a film whose target audience is predominantly female. The film, which is marketed as an unchallenging and celebratory adult comedy, may also have been aided by current political uncertainty and national despondency.”
So possibly, those annoyed by the Brexit vote opted to drown their sorrows with the “Ab Fab” ladies, which sounds like a great plan to us.
“Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie” arrives in the U.S. on July 22. It was written by Saunders and directed by Mandie Fletcher.
