Denzel Washington’s acclaimed new film ‘Flight’ is expected to score Oscar nominations, but few prognosticators expected it to open to huge box office numbers, since it was opening in a relatively small 1,884 theaters.

But once again, the A-list actor proved that he is still one of the only truly bankable movie stars around.

Flight opened to an estimated $24.9 million, the third biggest opening ever for a movie opening in less than 2,000 theaters, it’s per screen average of $13,275 was actually the highest of any of other film this week — including the weekend winner kid’s movie ‘Wreck It Ralph’ — and its A- Cinemascore rating suggests audiences will continue to build buzz around the film with positive word of mouth.

This film’s success bookends a strong year for Washington, who had of the biggest hits of his career with February’s action thriller ‘Safe House.’ The popularity of ‘Flight’ adds to an impeccable track record for an actor who at 57 is arguably more popular than he has ever been before.