Cold Pursuit has worst opening for a Liam Neeson action film since 1990

It’s also the worst opening for any wide release starring Neeson since 2010, when ‘The Next Three Days’, which also starred Russell Crowe, opened to $6.5m

Cold Pursuit has fallen short at the box office, following controversial comments by its star Liam Neeson.

The actor faced a massive backlash after telling The Independent that he once roamed the streets with a cosh, wanting to kill a “black bastard” after someone close to him was raped years ago.

The Lionsgate film, according to The Wrap, opened to an estimated $10.8m (£8.4m). It’s the worst opening for any wide release starring Neeson since 2010, when The Next Three Days, which also starred Russell Crowe, opened to $6.5m.

However, expectations were low even before Neeson’s comments, with trackers estimating it would open to $7-10m.

The film is Neeson’s worst-performing action film since 1990’s superhero film Darkman, directed by Sam Raimi, which opened to $8m in August and ended up only earning $48m worldwide.

In comparison, the actor’s highest-earning action film was 2012’s Taken 2, which opened to $49.5m and earned $376m worldwide.

Cold Pursuit, directed by Hans Petter Moland, follows a snowplough driver whose quiet life comes crashing down when his son dies under mysterious circumstances, leading him on a path of bloody vengeance.