Candyman director Nia DaCosta has become the first Black woman to debut at number one on the US box office chart.

• READ MORE: “The ending is special”: What to expect from Nia DaCosta’s terrifying ‘Candyman’ sequel

The reimagining and sequel to the 1992 horror flick earned $22.3million (£16million) in its opening weekend in US and Canadian cinemas. This figure far surpasses the film’s low-end projection of $15million.

Candyman’s success also means DaCosta has earned the second highest grossing three-day domestic box office opening for a Black female director, behind Ava DuVernay’s A Wrinkle In Time which racked up $33.1million in March 2018.

Below Candyman at the US box office was Free Guy starring Ryan Reynolds, which continues to be a surprise hit after only dropping 27 per cent in its third weekend.

Based on Clive Barker’s short story The Forbidden, DaCosta’s Candyman acts as a sequel to the original 1992 film – ignoring sequels Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh in 1995 and Candyman: Day Of The Dead in 1999.

The revamp is co-written by DaCosta, Win Rosenfeld and Jordan Peele, who helmed 2017’s Get Out and Us starring Lupita Nyong’o.

Reviewing the film, NME said: “DaCosta’s thrilling film has a lot to say about art, gentrification, memory and race, often in the space of a single scene. There are a few well-placed jump scares and gory moments but anyone expecting a purely bloodthirsty rampage will be disappointed.

“This is an immaculately designed bone-chiller rather than a mindless slaughter and all the better for it.”

DaCosta will also make history as the first Black woman to direct a Marvel film with The Marvels, set to be released next year.