‘Ticket To Paradise’ tops international box office, ‘The Woman King’ wins in North America and worldwide

World box office September 16-18

Credit: Comscore, click top right to expand. All figures are estimates.

‘Ticket To Paradise’ expands with $12.6m session

UPDATE: Universal’s Ticket To Paradise expanded at the weekend from seven early markets to 46 territories, grossing a confirmed $12.6m, and taking the international (and global) total to $15.3m.

The numbers for the Ol Parker-directed George Clooney/Julia Roberts romantic comedy would have been higher had Universal proceeded with release in key market UK/Ireland. Instead, the film lands there tomorrow (September 20), delayed because of the royal funeral.

Among opening territories, Australia scored best with $2.4m including previews – topping the country’s chart with a 44% share of the top 10 despite competition from four other wide new openers (including Warner Bros’ DC League Of Super-Pets, landing in second place, and Universal’s David Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream, entering in third – see below).

Germany also made a good start with Ticket To Paradise, beginning with $2.1m, and likewise topping the country’s chart.

Holdover markets proved robust – dropping an estimated 22% overall. Spain delivered $580,000 in its second session (down 30%), taking the total to $1.9m. Brazil, with $577,000, saw a 6% rise, and the total is $1.4m.

Following the September 20 UK/Ireland release, remaining key markets for Ticket To Paradise include North America, France, Italy, Mexico and South Korea (all October) and Japan (November).

‘The Woman King’ lands in North America with $19m

UPDATE: While Ticket To Paradise proved the highest-grossing title at the international box office, the global chart is led by Sony’s The Woman King, which topped the North America box office at the weekend with a confirmed debut of $19m.

Gina Prince-Blythewood (Love & Basketball) directs Viola Davis in the 1820s-set action drama about the all-female warrior unit that protected the West African kingdom of Dahoney during the 17th to 19th centuries. The film originates in a story by actor/producer Maria Bello, who in 2015 visited Benin, where Dahoney used to be located, and learned the history of the Agojie warriors.

The Woman King premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9. The $50m-budget film is produced by TriStar Pictures and co-financed by Entertainment One (eOne). The first key international market to release is France, on September 28.

‘Moonage Daydream’ kicks off with $1.4m

UPDATE: Universal’s Moonage Daydream looks on course to be a rare documentary box office success, given an estimated $1.6m debut in 28 international markets.

Australia proved particularly strong for Brett Morgen’s David Bowie doc, delivering $308,000 including previews, and landing in third place.

UK/Ireland grossed $205,000 from an exclusive 51-site IMAX release – landing in 10th place in the territory’s chart. That was enough to make Moonage Daydream the highest new entry during a session that was relatively starved of new releases.

In Australia, Netherlands (a robust $185,000), Sweden, Denmark, Israel and New Zealand, the film landed in the weekend box office top five.

Next key markets to release are France (September 21) and Spain (September 30). 

Australia opening boosts ‘Super-Pets’

UPDATE: Warner Bros’ DC League Of Super-Pets has surged from ninth to fifth place in the global chart, boosted by its arrival in Australia, where it’s begun with a debut of $2.6m including previews.

The animation grossed a confirmed $5.3m in all international markets at the weekend, and an estimated $2.2m in North America. Cumulative totals are respectively $90.1m and $87.9m, combining for $178m worldwide.

The Australia release coincided with the start of school holidays, which have begun in 47% of the country and expand to 94% of the country by the end of this week. The last market to release DC League Of Super-Pets is New Zealand, which welcomes the film this Thursday (September 22).

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