Straight Outta Compton, which already boasts the dual distinction of being a confirmed smash and a surefire Oscar contender, is now making history by officially becoming the highest-grossing film by a black director. The film, which is currently at the center of a predictably massive lawsuit from former N.W.A. manager (and general controversial figure) Jerry Heller, reportedly grabbed $38.9 million in international box office receipts as of Monday, according to Cinema Blend.
The previous record, held by Scary Movie, was assisted in its shattering by Compton’s predictions-destroying domestic haul of $161.1 million. As previously reported, the N.W.A. biopic enjoyed an unprecedented three-week run at the top of the box office, thrusting director F. Gary Gray into the spotlight like never before.
Gray, with a storied history of classic cinematic moments behind him, recently announced his decision to helm the forthcoming Furious 8. The sequel, the first entry in the franchise's "final trilogy" of a goodbye, is sure to land Gray another blockbuster distinction. "I was always very specific about what I wanted," Gray told us in an interview earlier this year, describing the process behind Compton's eventual success. "I wanted a lot, so in terms of thirst, I was very thirsty."
