'Candyman's' Nia DaCosta becomes 1st Black woman to direct a No. 1 movie debut

By Megan Stone

Nia DaCosta accomplished a major career milestone when her supernatural slasher flick, "Candyman," bowed at No. 1 in theaters over the weekend.

She became the first Black woman to debut a film at No. 1 at the domestic box office with a $22.4 million opening.

DaCosta, who directed the "spiritual sequel" of the first "Candyman" movie, which came out in 1992, also grossed the second-highest opening over a three-day period for a Black female director, according to Deadline.

Ava DuVernay's 2018 film "A Wrinkle in Time" holds the top honor, with a $33.1 million opening weekend.

Adama Jalloh/The New York Times via Redux

Nia DaCosta, the director of the new "Candyman" movie, poses for a photo in London, Aug. 7, 2021.

DaCosta, 31, co-wrote "Candyman" alongside Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld. The 2021 reboot is the first in the horror franchise's nearly 30-year history to feature an all-Black main cast. "Candyman" is the second film DaCosta's directed, behind her 2018 debut, "Little Woods."

Now, DaCosta is onto her next big project -- the "Captain Marvel" sequel, "The Marvels," which is due out Nov. 11, 2022.

"Candyman" -- which stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris and Colman Domingo -- is in theaters now.