International Box Office: Godzilla Grounds the Competition

May 21, 2014

Godzilla got off to a milestone start on the international market earning $103.0 million on 16,946 screens in 64 markets during its first weekend of release. It was able to dominate the box office thanks to a string of first place finishes in most of the major markets. Its biggest market was the U.K., where the film pulled in $10.73 million on 550 screens, while Russia was close behind with $8.65 million on 1,814 screens. The film was surprisingly strong in Mexico, pulling in $7.21 million on 2,494 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $8.57 million. It was also strong in Australia with $6.34 million on 498 screens and in France with $5.73 million on 596. The film earned $4.97 million on 584 screens over the weekend in Germany for a total opening in that market of $5.50 million. Brazil was a strong market for Godzilla, as it opened with $4.07 million on 417 screens there. The film's opening in South Korea was nearly the same with $3.65 million on 610 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $4.37 million. Italy was next with $3.55 million on 692 screens. Finally, the film was soft in Spain with an opening of $1.29 million on 427 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $1.55 million, but this was still enough for first place there. Overall, it wasn't as strong internationally as it was domestically, relative to the size of the markets, but it is still on pace to break even before it reaches the home market.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 saw its weekend box office fall to just $33.28 million on 18,279 screens for $463.75 internationally after a month of release. Worldwide is has pulled in $635.92 million, meaning it is about $150 million away from breaking even. Its chances of getting there took a hit, as Godzilla grabbed more of its audience than I was expecting, but it still has the home market ahead of itself, so profitability is very likely. This week, China remained the film's biggest market adding $24.48 million during the full week to its running tally, which now sits at $80.86 million.

Neighbors fell to $13.5 million on 2,600 screens in 35 markets for a total of $54.8 million. This is enough to cover its entire production budget, and then some, plus it did even better domestically, so the studio should be really happy with this result. The film had no major market openings this past weekend, but it did hold on well in some markets, including Germany where it was down less than 40% to $3.27 million on 578 screens over the weekend for a two-week total of $9.91 million. On the other hand, it plummeted more than 80% in the U.K. down to $2.36 million on 516 screens over the weekend for a two-week total of $19.15 million. Granted, it has already made more in that one market than it cost to make, plus, it's opening weekend includes previews, but this is still a stunning decline.

Coming Home opened in second place in China and fourth place internationally with $12.98 million in its native market.

The Other Woman fell to fifth place with $8.3 million over the weekend for a total of $79.8 million after a month of release. At this pace, the film should reach $100 million internationally, while it has yet to open in Spain, Italy, and France, so it could reach $200 million worldwide. That's a fantastic figure for an R-rated comedy, especially one aimed at women.

Frozen remained in sixth place with $8.00 million on 893 screens in 9 markets over the weekend, which gives it totals of $805.8 million internationally and $1.206 billion worldwide. By this time next week, the film will be ahead of Iron Man 3's worldwide total, making it the biggest hit of 2013. Its biggest market of the weekend was Japan, again, where it rose nearly 10% to $7.95 million on 670 screens over the weekend for a total of $181.23 million after ten weeks of release. At this pace, I can't imagine the film won't reach $200 million shortly, which would make it the first film to reach that milestone in Japan.

Rio 2 was close behind with $7.6 million over the weekend for totals of $332.4 million internationally and $450.4 million worldwide. Up next is Japan, where it opens at the end of the month, while it opens in July in Australia.

Qu'est-ce qu'on a fait au Bon Dieu? earned $5.01 million on 887 screens in 3 markets over the weekend, given it a one-month total of $66.61 million. Of that, $63.10 million was earned in France, including $4.65 million on 821 screens over the weekend.

Transcendence returned to the top ten with $3.65 million on 1,414 screens in 26 markets for a total of $23.04 million. This weekend it opened in third place in South Korea with $2.50 million on 417 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $3.26 million. This is better than its performance here, but not by enough to make a real difference.

Obsessed rounded out the top ten with $3.60 million on 682 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $5.07 million, all of which came from South Korea.

- C.S.Strowbridge

Filed under: International Box Office, The Other Woman, Frozen, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Godzilla, Rio 2, Transcendence, The Other Woman, Neighbors