Robin Hood hits the target overseas on $74m launch

The action adventure starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett delivered Universal’s second biggest international opening weekend behind King Kong’s $84.3m and the biggest launch for Crowe and director Ridley Scott.

The film opened top in 52 territories led by $8.1m in the UK from 539 and 42% market share, $6.8m in France from 648 and 30% market share; $6.4m in Germany from 716 and 31% market share; and $6.1m in Italy from 496 for Universal’s biggest opening weekend in the market.

Robin Hood plundered $5.8m in Russia from 610 for Universal’s fourth and Scott and Crowe’s biggest ever launch; $4.4m in Spain from 384 and 43% market share; and $5.2m in Australia from 271 and 48% market share.

Latin America results were strong across the board. Mexico generated $2.9m from 496 dates and 37% market share, and Brazil $2.4m from 275 dates and 30% market share. Scott and Crowe enjoyed career best launches in these territories and Argentina and Peru.

In South-East Asia, Robin Hood opened in South Korea on $3.4m from 252 dates and 28% market share and delivered opening weekend record for Scott and Crowe in Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines. There are seven territories still to open including China in June and Japan in November.

David Kosse, Universal’s president of international, said: “We’re delighted with this huge opening for Robin Hood internationally after our highly visible international launch of the film at the Cannes Film Festival this week. This phenomenal response from audiences around the world is a fantastic result for Universal, producer Brian Grazer, director Ridley Scott, stars Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett and the rest of our cast and crew who have worked so hard on this film.” 

Green Zone added $3m from 560 sites in 20 territories for $55.4m, fired up by a Japanese launch in second place on $2.3m from 260. There are ten territories to open including South Africa on May 28.

Nanny McPhee And The Big Bang added $1.1m from 1,500 in 25 territories for $53.6m including $4m from France and there are 25 territories to open including Finland, Italy and Norway on June 4. Heartbreaker (L’Arnacoeur)has reached $26m in France and Kick-Ass stands at $25.8m through Universal.

• Iron Man 2 added a further $31m for $245m and took $28.3m from 9,857 Paramount/PPI sites in 61 territories for $238.2m after three weekends.

The biggest contributions came from China, France, Australia, the UK, and Korea. In its second weekend in China it grossed $4.4m from 3,000 sites for $16.7m, while in France $3.3m from 637 raised the tally to $17.7m. In Australia $2.3m from 254 locations raised the tally to $18.9m, while in the UK $2.3m from 496 sites boosted the tally to $27m. South Korea generated $2.1m from 522 for $25.4m.

How To Train Your Dragon grossed $7m from 5,969 in 61 for $221m, fired up by a $3m Chinese launch from 2,500 sites. It opens next weekend in Korea and in August in Japan.

• Alice In Wonderland reached $100m in Japan and grossed $10.7m overall from 3,861 theatres in 55 territories in its 11th weekend of play through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International, elevating the box office to $649m.

It is now the seventh biggest international release and will shortly overtake Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End’s $651.6m to become Disney’s most successful foreign export ever. The worldwide tally has reached $980.5m and Alice In Wonderland is the fifth biggest global release at this stage.

The fantasy adventure stayed top in Japan for the fifth weekend in a row as $4.7m from 877 venues brought the latest tally to $100m. Brazil added $1.6m from 485 cinemas to $21.3m, and Spain generated $1.4m from 528 for $26.8m. The film launched in Chile on an exceptional $1.1m.

• Warner Bros Pictures International’s A Nightmare On Elm Street generated $7.8m from more than 2,300 screens in 24 market, bringing the tally to $17m. The horror remake opened in France on $1.5m from 245 including previews and launched in Mexico on $1.2m from 387.

Clash Of The Titans crossed $300m and generated a further $4.3m from more than 5,300 in 58 for $303.1m.

• Date Night added $5 for Fox International for $48.3m and opened in France on $1.8m. Hot Tub Time Machine took $1.1m for $8.7m, while Avatar added just under $£1m for $1.982bn.
  
• Sony Pictures Releasing International’s Chico Xavier has become the fourth biggest local language release in Brazil on $16.8m after Su Eu Fosse Voce 2 ($50.5m), Two Children Of Francisco ($36.7m), and Carandiru ($29.6m). The Back-Up Plan added $3.9m for $12.8m and has amassed $14.1m through all markets, while The Bounty Hunter has reached $66.7m.