The stand-alone film begins opening overseas on Wednesday before landing Friday in North America; Will Smith drama 'Collateral Beauty' also debuts nationwide, while award contenders 'Fences' and 'Neruda' launch at the specialty box office.
Clint Eastwood's 'Sully' also opened to a disappointing $5.5 million, while local romance 'Suddenly Seventeen', directed by the daughter of Zhang Yimou, earned $10.7 million.
'La La Land' scores the second-best location average of all time for a specialty film and the best ever for a prestige title rolling out in five theaters; fellow awards contender 'Manchester by the Sea' continues to prosper.