Refresh for latest…: Two major global milestones were crossed this weekend as Warner Bros/DC’s Superman passed the six-century mark — at $604.5M through Sunday — and Apple Original Films’ F1, via WB, also pushed the needle past $600M, reaching $603.4M through today.
It’s notable that Superman is seeing the majority of its money coming from domestic ($347M) with the international box office at $257.5M (42.6% of the total), while F1 is heavily being driven by overseas where the cume to date is $417.5M — or 69% of the worldwide take thus far. The global Imax tally is $94.4M.
A little more about F1 before we dig into the rest of the weekend. The Joseph Kosinski-directed racing pic added $6.1M in this 9th frame, a 37% dip. It’s Brad Pitt’s biggest movie ever worldwide, and best ever in China for the actor as well as one of only three studio titles to cross $50M in that market this year.
Tops to date are: China ($59.2M), Korea ($35.2M), France ($30M), UK ($29.7M) and Mexico ($19.9M).
Speaking of China, New Line/WB’s Final Destinations Bloodlines finally released in the market this weekend, and to very positive results amid strong local titles.
The opening session there is an estimated $8.2M, lifting the international cume to $157.4M and sending global close to $300M, currently at $295.5M through today.
As we saw last year with Alien: Romulus, there has been some relaxation of censorship for horror/R-rated films, and audiences are responding. This weekend marks the first time the Final Destination franchise had ever been played in mainland China cinemas.
Staying in Asia for a moment, Japanese hit Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle added another $10.5M in the markets where Crunchyroll/Sony have the movie. The offshore cume for Sony is $34.7M. Not included here is Japan, where Toho/Aniplex release (we will update that total once it becomes available), and Korea which killed it at open this session with a leading $13M. The global total is now well above $200M.
There are nine Southeast Asian Sony markets in release so far, including this weekend’s new opener, Philippines. The start there was huge at $4.2M, making it the top anime film ever in the market. In Thailand, Infinity Castle has become the biggest anime and animated movie of all time and the top film of the year ($6M). Other holdover markets further elevated their record totals as the highest grossing anime film of all time: Hong Kong ($7.1M), Indonesia ($6.2M) and Malaysia ($5M).
In Imax, the global total is $28.5M. In Japan, Infinity Castle has become the highest-grossing for Imax ever, overtaking Mugen Train. Korea’s weekend debut of $1.4M makes it Imax’s biggest ever 3-day opening for the country, besting Avatar: The Way of Water.
There are many more markets on deck including North America, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, UK, Spain, France and Germany.
Leading other continued play, New Line/Warner Bros’ Weapons continues to hold well, dropping 31% internationally with a $13.2M 3rd frame. The offshore cume is now $83.5M in 74 markets, and global is thisclose to $200M at $199.4M through Sunday.
The Top 5 overseas plays are: UK ($11.6M), Mexico ($7.5M), Spain ($5.7M), France ($5.6M) and Australia ($5.1M).
With a terrific 29% drop, Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys 2 added another $12M to its overseas coffers for an $83M running international cume in 68 markets. Global is now $149.1M.
The offshore performance, excluding China, is pacing 19% above the original film.
Italy was new this frame, opening at No. 1 with $1.7M. China had a strong second weekend of $4.5M (-32%), taking the cume there to $16.4M through Sunday. During the week there, the sequel surpassed the lifetime of Trolls and this weekend overtook Elemental.
France had a great -5% hold in weekend 4, the best in the market, as the No.1 film for the session.
The Top 5 to date are: China ($16.4M), UK ($13.7M), France ($8.7M), Spain ($6.2M) and Mexico ($5.5M).
Germany and Australia are still to release.
Universal/Amblin’s Jurassic World Rebirth this week became only the 3rd studio title to cross $500M at the international box office, reaching $508.6M through Sunday. The weekend added $6.2M in 83 markets. Excluding China, the overall overseas performance to date is on par with Jurassic World Dominion. The global total is $844.1M.
Here are the Top 5 to date: China ($79M), UK ($47.3M), Mexico ($36.4M), Germany ($32.6M) and France ($28.4M).
Disney’s Freakier Friday had a solid 35% drop in its 3rd frame, notably with the UK down just 19% and Mexico, Australia, Italy, Germany and France all sliding within the 30s. The full overseas weekend was $6.2M for a running $42.8M international cume and $113.3M global.
Strong play continues in Latin American markets with the sequel remaining the No. 1 title in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Central America, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina (non-local), Uruguay (non-local) and the region as a whole.
The Top 5 markets to date are: UK ($7.9M), Mexico ($7.6M), Australia ($3.3M), Argentina ($2.3M) and Colombia ($2.2M).
Still to open are Korea, Hong Kong and Japan.
Dakota Johnson/Pedro Pascal/Chris Evans-starrer Materialists just keeps cranking out strong numbers, this weekend adding $6.2M in 57 markets for a $48.6M international running cume and $85.1M global. Sony has overseas on the A24 pic which is still to release in Italy next month.
Marvel/Disney’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps — also starring Pedro Pascal — is nearing the five-century mark with $490.1M worldwide through the 5th session. International reps $232.8M of the running total.
Although it is skewing more towards domestic, FF:FS is the highest-grossing superhero movie of the year in Italy, Spain, Mexico and the whole of Latin America. It is again No. 1 in Brazil this weekend.
The offshore take was $5.8M (-42%) across all international markets. The Top 5 of those to date are: UK ($29.5M), Mexico ($27.4M), France ($15.4M), Brazil ($13.5M) and Australia ($11.1M).
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