International Box Office: Summer Slows But Blockbusters Still Reach Milestones
August 18, 2010
As the summer blockbuster season comes to a close, there are few major releases in theaters worldwide. Regardless, there are still a few major milestones being reached, and a few more to come. For instance, Inception maintained its hold in first place with $35.51 million on 6879 screens, in 61 markets, for a total of $320.44 million internationally. It also reached a major milestone worldwide with $568.91 million, making it just one of 78 films to reach $500 million. It is still going strong in a number of major markets, including Spain, where it remained in first place with $2.72 million on 497 screens over the weekend, for a total of $10.15 million after two. It was down just 22% in Brazil adding $1.56 million on 292 screens over the weekend and $4.43 million after two. Its best market overall is the U.K. where it has made $45.53 million after a month of release, including $2.62 million on 472 screens this past weekend. By this time next week, it should have $600 million worldwide, with $700 million becoming a lot more likely.
Toy Story 3 also reached a major milestone or two, earning $23.39 million on 5571 screens in 47 markets for a total of $595.85 million internationally and $950.67 million worldwide. After two months of release, the film is now the highest grossing animated film of all time overtaking Shrek 2. It has yet to open in Scandinavia and when it does at the end of the month, it will likely have become just the seventh film to reach $1 billion at the box office. Meanwhile, by this time next week it should have $100 million in Japan alone and it is also closing in on the century mark in the U.K.
The Expendables opened in third place with $16.79 million on 2469 screens in 16 markets. The film's biggest market was Russia where it managed first place with $5.68 million on 855 screens. It managed second place in a pair of major markets, with Australia bringing in $2.80 million on 224 screens and Spain managing $1.81 million on 340. It was not as potent in Mexico settling for third place with $996,000 on 308 screens, nor in Brazil, landing in fourth place with $1.31 million on 173 screens. Obviously the film is still quite early in its run, so it is too soon to predict where it will end up. Unless it costs way too much to advertise, it appears to be on its way to profitability, even if it will have to wait till it reaches the home market to get there.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice shot up into fourth place with $15.14 million on 3337 screens in 39 markets for a total of $74.69 million after a month of release. This weekend it opened in a number of major markets led by France, where it opened in first place with $4.7 million on 435 screens. It also opened strong in Japan with $3.41 million on 328 screens, but that includes midweek numbers. Over the weekend in only managed sixth place with $2.33 million. It wasn't as potent in the U.K. where it placed fifth with $1.78 million on 406 screens. Or in Brazil where it placed third with $1.40 million on 217. It has already made more internationally than it did domestically and it has yet to open in Italy, Germany, Australia, and other markets. However, considering how much it cost to make and how little it made here, its international run is not exactly worth bragging about.
Step Up 3D was surprisingly strong in Russia opening in second place with $4.07 million in 643 screens. Overall it made $13.46 million on 2191 screens in 18 markets for a two-week total of $33.35 million. In the U.K. is was down 47% to $1.68 million for the weekend and $7.71 million after two. This is better than its run here, taking into account the relative size of the two market.
Grown Ups slipped a spot to sixth place with $9.36 million on 2468 screens in 33 markets for a total of $49.85 million internationally and $207.91 million worldwide. While Adam Sandler has a lot of $100 million movies domestically, he doesn't have that many $200 million hits on the worldwide stage. Also, with a few more major markets left to go (U.K., Italy, etc.) it could become the biggest hit in his career.
Salt fell to seventh, but it was right behind with $9.36 million on 2905 screens in 47 markets for a total of $83.04 million. It opened in a number of markets last weekend, but they were all of the smaller variety. On the other hand, this coming weekend it opens in the U.K., Australia, Germany, and Spain, and when it does, it should climb the chart and it might top $100 million internationally.
The Last Airbender was also really close behind with $9.35 million on 2843 screens in 30 markets for a total of $69.01 million. It opened in third place in the U.K. with $2.58 million on 450 screens, which is not a great start. Furthermore, it fell 54% during its second weekend in Spain adding $1.39 million on 553 screens over the weekend for a total of $6.40 million after two. It is very close to $200 million worldwide, but since it cost $280 million to make and advertise, it will need to do well in its remaining markets (Germany, Italy, Australia, Brazil, etc.) and perform well on the home market to have a real chance at profitability.
The Karate Kid climbed back into the top ten this weekend while it lifted its running tally over $100 million. This was thanks in part to a third place opening in Japan. In that market it made $3.36 million on 271 screens, while overall it made $8.77 million on 2417 screens in 37 markets for a total of $107.76 million. Needless to say, a sequel is in the works.
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore entered the top ten for the first time with $7.91 million on 3678 screens in 32 markets for a total of $22.42 million. It opened in second place in Mexico with $1.15 million on 657 screens, but that's a terrible per screen average. In Germany it only managed fifth place with $1.23 million on 458 screens. It bombed domestically and it is bombing internationally, which is vindicating analysts that questioned the logic behind making this film in the first place.
Despicable Me slipped out of the top ten with $7.05 million on 1520 screens in 21 markets for a still early total of $55.82 million. The film had no openings of note this weekend, but it was down just 11% in Brazil adding $2.62 million on 384 screens over the weekend for a total of $6.89 million after two. It remained in top spot in Mexico for the third weekend in a row with $2.12 million on 1040 screens lifting its total to $14.26 million. If these two markets are indicative of its international potential, it could earn $500 million to $600 million worldwide.
Looking further down the list...
Aftershock plummeted 65% to 17th place with $4.95 million on 1145 screens in 4 markets for a total of $88.21 million. However, while that's a sharp decline, this Chinese film should still hit $100 million in total, as long as it opens in any other major market.
Filed under: International Box Office, Inception, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Despicable Me, The Last Airbender, Salt, The Expendables, The Karate Kid, Grown Ups, Toy Story 3, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, Step Up 3D