“The Girl On The Train” Debuts At #3 In South Africa

Emily Blunt Thriller Seduces Weekend Box Office In South Africa

tgott_posterTimes Media Films has confirmed that THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN made a strong impact in its international opening weekend (Friday, 30 September to Sunday, 2 October) at South African cinemas. The highly-anticipated thriller – based on the best-selling novel by Paula Hawkins and starring Emily Blunt – made its local box office debut at #3 for the past weekend, after being released at cinemas globally (including South Africa) this past Friday.

Over 25 000 South Africans flocked to see THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN in cinemas this past weekend, eager to be the first to catch a glimpse of this suspenseful story’s big screen-adaptation. THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN features an impressive cast – including names such as Emily Blunt, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, Allison Janney and Lisa Kudrow – and is stocked with equal doses of intrigue, psychological drama, mystery and scandal.

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN crossed the R1.5 million-mark at the local box office this weekend. It opened on 57 screens across South Africa – crowning the significance of its box office success with almost half the amount of cinemas screening this film, compared to the other two titles in the Top 3.

Girl on a Train, The
Girl on a Train, The

Emily Blunt leads the all-star cast of DreamWorks Pictures’ THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, from director Tate Taylor and producer Marc Platt. Based on author Paula Hawkins’ best-selling novel, the thriller that has riveted millions has now made its way to the big screen. The book’s massive and very loyal fanbase has been streaming to cinemas en masse, along with other cinemagoers seeking a quality suspense thriller with true jaw-dropping power.

The film’s South African box office success follows hot on the heels of it hitting the Number 1-spot at U.S. cinemas for the past weekend.

Producer Marc Platt describes why he knew Hawkins’ novel would be perfect material for a filmic adaptation: “It had genre elements of a thriller, and yet it felt contemporary, full of interesting, flawed characters. We’re all a bit voyeuristic, so the notion of riding a train every day and being one of the people in the crowd, and observing a life—and then all of sudden seeing something wrong in that view—is very Hitchcockian, very REAR WINDOW, which is a great hook.”

Reeling from a recent divorce and searching to preoccupy her days, Rachel Watson (Blunt) spends her weekday commute to and from Manhattan quietly gazing out the train windows. Every morning and evening, she relives memories from just outside the home she once shared with her now ex-husband Tom (Justin Theroux), who now lives there with his new wife, Anna (Rebecca Ferguson), and their baby.

To distract herself from a life that’s grown so aimless, Rachel develops an obsession with the occupants of another house on the route, 15 Beckett Road—a few doors down from where she used to reside. There, blissfully unaware that a stranger is longingly watching, the seemingly perfect couple, Megan and Scott, goes about the business of suburban life.

For months, in between furtive sips of the liquor that’s become a constant companion, Rachel has stolen glimpses of the stunning Megan and handsome Scott as they drink morning coffee by their windows or laugh on their porch at night-time—and imagined how idyllic their world must be. The seemingly carefree young woman is the portrait of everything that Rachel tried to be during her years with Tom, in a marriage from which she refuses to let go.

Girl on a Train, The
Girl on a Train, The

One day, on her way into the city, Rachel witnesses something so shocking in Megan and Scott’s backyard that it rocks her to the core. Soon after, when Megan goes missing and is feared dead, Rachel tells the police what she believes she has seen. But can Rachel trust what she thinks she witnessed, or is she entangled in the crime itself? When one voyeur crosses the dangerous line between concerned and obsessed, she will either find the real killer…or discover that there is innocent blood on her own hands.

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN is now showing at South African cinemas nationwide.

For more information, go to www.thegirlonthetrainmovie.com

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TheGirlOnTheTrainMovie

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb