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'Hidden Figures' Is Enjoying The #1 Spot At The Australian Box Office

Like there was ever any doubt.

If you're yet to fall in love with 'Hidden Figures', the untold true story of three black women who were instrumental in NASA's first manned mission to the moon, the Australian box office can vouch it's more than worth a trip to the flicks.

The film, starring Taraji P. Henson alongside Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe, rocketed to the top of the box office over the weekend, earning a stellar $3.25 million and easily overtaking the opening of 'The Great Wall' and the second weekend of juggernaut 'Fifty Shades Darker'.

The inspiring story has not only sparked conversation in the film industry (hello, the three leads are not only women, but women 'of colour') but also the science and maths worlds, as we learn of the unheralded mathematicians who helped launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit, while facing severe gender and racial challenges to do so.

Taraji P. Henson plays lead character, Katherine Johnson.
Fox
Taraji P. Henson plays lead character, Katherine Johnson.

Already it has won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and is nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer) and Best Adapted Screenplay, to be announced next week.

Taraji P. Henson's portrayal of Katherine Johnson has been hailed as one of the best performances of the year causing many to question why Henson did not receive acting nominations at both the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards.

Ted Melfi, director of 'Hidden Figures' told The Huffington Post he was "disappointed" to see Henson receive no major nominations however believed it was likely the result of Hollywood politics, not Henson's talent.

According to Melfi, it was due to Taraji working 17-hour days on the set of 'Empire' during the awards campaign season probably factored into her lack of big nods.

"But the way it runs is you've got to get out there, working the campaign trail. I mean, that's what I've been told -- this is the first time I've been through this," Melfi said.

'Hidden Figures' is up for three Oscars at this month's Academy Awards.
Fox
'Hidden Figures' is up for three Oscars at this month's Academy Awards.

In the U.S. alone, the film has tallied $US142m making it the highest-grossing Best Picture Oscar-nominee this year.

The story is one that you can't help but want to retell to every little girl in your life. It's one that makes you think, "how on earth didn't we know this crucial part of history?"

Set in a time when segregation was still commonplace in the U.S. we see each character face huge racial, sexual and educational injustices including having to use separate dining and bathroom facilities at their own workplace.

Mostly, it reminds the world of the importance of storytelling as we witness three genius women refuse to sit back idly and allow discrimination to stand in the way of their dreams.

It's a message the world needs. Especially now.

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