DECEMBER 24 UPDATE: DC Entertainment’s Aquaman ruled global box office for the third consecutive weekend and Warner Bros top brass expect it to cross the $500m international box office milestone on December 24.
While several rivals had been expected to put up a fight, in the end the heroics of Jason Momoa, Amber Heard and friends were too much for the likes of Bumblebee, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, and Mary Poppins Returns, all of which delivered commendable opening weekends.
WARNER BROS PICTURES INTERNATIONAL
Spurred on by stirring debuts and robust holds, Aquaman brought in $91.3m from 70 markets in its third international session to propel the running total to $410.7m, which combined with the $72.1m number one North American launch for $482.8m worldwide.
Comparing like-for-like markets at the same stage of release, Aquaman ranks as the highest grossing DC Universe release and ranks number one in all 27 of its new markets, number one across Europe, Latin America, and large swathes of Asia where it is already Warner Bros’ biggest release in Indonesia on a thunderous $11.7m and counting, Taiwan $8.8m, Philippines $8.3m, and Malaysia $6.6m, among others.
China was the top individual territory of the weekend on $23.3m for $232.8m after three sessions, as the tentpole placed second and now ranks as the seventh biggest imported film of all time. South Korea once again showed its mettle and rewarded the tentpole with a $9.9m number one debut, followed by France on $6.2m, Germany on $4.2m, Spain on $2.8m, and Hong Kong on $2.7m.
Second weekend number one holdovers saw Brazil produce $5m for $17.1m and Mexico $3.8m for $16.1m, while in a pair of number two holds, Russia generated $3m for $12.8m, and the UK $2.8m for $12.6m. Thailand has produced $6.4m. Aquaman opens in Australia this week, followed by Italy on January 1, and the final market Japan on February 8.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald grossed $7.4m from 72 markets to reach $457m, and $611.5m worldwide. Japan was the top result on $3.5m in the fifth weekend for $44.9m, while in the sixth session Germany produced $1.3m for $37.7m, France $761,000 for $31.2m, and the UK $631,000 for $40.4m. The Harry Potter spin-off’s top market is China on $57.3m.
A Star Is Born added $3.5m from 56 for $182m, and $382.1m worldwide. The romance remake from Bradley Cooper co-starring Lady Gaga opened in Japan on $2.1m. The top market remains the UK, where the running total stands at $37.9m. Next is Australia on $22.8m, France on $15.9m, Germany on $9.5m, Italy on $7.9m, Sweden on $6.8m, and Brazil on $6.7m.
SONY PICTURES RELEASING INTERNATIONAL
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse elbowed its way to number one in China on $26.1m in what studio executives said was the fourth biggest animated launch for a Hollywood film and the best foreign animated opening of 2018. Overall the acclaimed animation grossed $38m from 53 markets to swing to an early $64.8m running total. Solid holds saw a 25% drop in the UK, a 32% decline in Germany, and a 21% drop in Philippines. Spider-Verse debuts in Mexico and Italy this week, followed by Brazil on January 10, and Japan on March 28.
PARAMOUNT PICTURES INTERNATIONAL
Transformers spin-off Bumblebee from Laika founder Travis Knight (Laika was not involved in the making of the film) and starring Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena pulled off an impressive international launch, earning $31.1m from 38 markets.
Russia led the way on $4.9m at number four, followed by Indonesia on $4.9m at number one, Mexico on $3.9m at number two, Australia on $2.8m at number one, Malaysia on $2.6m at number one, Germany on $1.8m at number four, Thailand on $1.2m at number two, Singapore on $1.2m at number two, and Italy on $963,000 at number four.
Bumblebee opens in a further 17 markets opening this week including the UK, France, UK South Korea, Brazil, and Spain, followed by China on January 4. Japan will be the final market on March 22.
UNIVERSAL PICTURES INTERNATIONAL
The Grinch grossed $23.7m from 62 markets in play for $169.3m from 68 overall, and $422.5m worldwide. The family film featuring a voice cast led by Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead opened in Russia at number two on $4.2m and South Korea at number five on $1.4m.
Germany delivered the top hold, earning $2.4m in second place for $13.6m after four weekends. The UK delivered $2.2m for number three as the tally climbed to $31.1m after seven. Australia produced $1.8m for number two and $11.4m after four, Mexico $1.79m for number three and $13.9m after three, France $1.79m for number four and $11.2m after four, and Japan $1.3m for $4.6m after two weekends.
Mortal Engines added $4m for $42.3m, and $54.3m worldwide. Russia is the top market on $6.7m after three sessions.
WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES INTERNATIONAL
Mary Poppins starring Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda from director Rob Marshall embarked on its maiden voyage internationally and returned with $20.3m from 17 territories, combining with the $31m number two North American launch for $51.3m worldwide. The top result was a $9.4m number one UK debut that claimed 45% market share, followed by $2.8m in Italy, $2m in France, $1.9m in Germany, $1.4m in Spain, and $500,000 in each of Belgium and Brazil. This week the Mary Poppins reboot ventures into Mexico, followed by Australia on January 1, Russia on January 3, Japan on February 1, and South Korea on February 14.
Ralph Breaks The Internet brought in an additional $9.3m from 26 material territories to reach $145.5m, and $307.6m worldwide. The highlight was a $4.7m number one debut in Japan, while the animation arrived in Hong Kong on $1.6m. China remains the lead market and stands at $39m, followed by Mexico on $17m, the UK on $14, Russia $12.5m, and Spain $8.2m. It opens in Italy on January 1, and South Korea and Brazil on January 3. Germany receives the film on January 24, and France on February 13.
FOX INTERNATIONAL
Bohemian Rhapsody brought in a further $15m from 52 markets as international climbed to $482m, and worldwide reached $666.9m. Japan was the top market of the session on $3.4m for $55.2m, then South Korea on $2.6m for $65.2m to become the seventh biggest MPA title of all time there.
Dragon Ball Super: Broly added $3.7m in Japan for $16.5m. Upcoming market releases include Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand on December 27, with the balance of Latin America releasing in early January. Steve McQueen’s all-female heist thriller Widows starring Viola Davis and Elizabeth Debicki has grossed $31.5m.
STX INTERNATIONAL
Jennifer Lopez rom-com Second Act has reached $4.6m from 28 markets, while Jennifer Garner action thriller Peppermint stands at $16.4m from 68.
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