Refresh for latest…: Universal/Blumhouse’s The Invisible Man made its first appearance at the international box office this weekend, scaring up $20.2M in 47 markets. Combined with the strong domestic start, the Leigh Whannell-directed pic debuted to $49.2M globally. In like-for-like offshore openings, the Elisabeth Moss-starrer is tracking in line with Lights Out, A Quiet Place and Get Out. It’s also running 19% above Blumhouse’s Happy Death Day.
Producer Jason Blum was out touring the movie with the team in the UK, France and Spain during mid-February, and the sightings saw good dividends. The top opening market on the $7M production was the UK at $2.86M from 581 locations, followed by France at $2.2M from 355 and Mexico at $1.85M from 929. Latin America typically leans into horror though Invisible Man is playing more like a thriller (meaning less potential frontloading) and had solid showings in the European majors. Spain was a No. 1 start from 327 with $1.12M. Overall, it’s playing above expectations.
Further No. 1s were spotted in Australia, Korea (despite severe local turnstile impact from the coronavirus), India and Vietnam. Russia and Japan are the next majors to come for the well-reviewed modern spin on Universal’s classic monster. The runway is clear for a couple of weeks until Paramount’s A Quiet Place Part II starts making noise.
Paramount has bragging rights to the No. 1 movie at the international box office with Sonic The Hedgehog making it a hat trick, leading play for the third session in a row. Adding $26.8M in 62 markets, the little blue speedster has now cumed $137.2M overseas for $265.5M global. The UK leads all play at $22.3M.
Elsewhere, as we noted on Saturday, Sony’s Bad Boys For Life has crossed $400M global, now at $406M. Miramax’s The Gentlemen also hit a new milestone, passing $100M worldwide ($102M).
In general, the coronavirus spread continues to be a significant drag on international box office with China closed for the foreseeable future and markets like Korea, Italy and Japan also being impacted. Depending on how things go, France and Spain could be next. Estimates we are hearing indicate that the worldwide loss to the motion picture business amid the epidemic will pass $5B.
Next week sees the arrival of Disney/Pixar’s Onward in most offshore markets save Japan, Australia and Korea (the latter having been moved amid the spike in Covid-19 cases locally).
Breakdowns on this week’s films above and more are being updated below.
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