International Details - What Happened to Speed Racer?

May 18, 2008

Like it did domestically, What Happens in Vegas... managed to open in second place on the international charts. It was able to do so in part because it opened in nearly every major market over the past weekend earning solid openings in many of them. This includes second place in both the U.K. ($2.47 million on 398 screens), in France ($2.36 million on 304 screens), and in Australia ($2.33 million on 335). It also placed first in Spain with an impressive $3.77 million on 398 screens and also topped the charts in both Russia and Germany with $3.70 million on 476 screens $1.85 million on 500 screens respectively. Overall it managed to pull in $24.86 million on 3904 screens in 36 markets during its opening weekend on the charts, and should have little difficulty matching its domestic total.

  • At the beginning of the month, Speed Racer's opening total was at least expected to compete with Iron Man's second weekend on the international charts. However, even with its struggles domestically, its performance internationally was very disappointing. It opened with a mere $12.73 million on 4637 screens in 30 markets. It performed adequately in South Korea with $2.30 million on 488 screens over the weekend and $2.62 million including midweek numbers, while it also earned second place in Mexico with $1.97 million on 705 screens. On the other hand, it struggled in Spain with $868,000 on 427 screen and in the U.K. with $709,000 on 442. Meanwhile, it bombed during its opening in Italy with a mere $386,000 on 396 screens while it barely made the top ten in Germany with $147,000 on 590 screens. The film has yet to open in a number of major markets, including Japan where the original cartoon originated. However, it is nearly impossible to imagine a likely scenario where the film can recover.
  • Bhoothnath opened in its native India and other markets earning fourth place internationally with $4.75 million on 858 screens in 15 markets, which is only average for a film of this type.
  • The Forbidden Kingdom was down more than 60% to $3.78 million on 2272 screens in 12 markets for a total of $46.85 million. The film has yet to open in many major markets, especially in Europe, but it has already nearly matched its domestic total.
  • Made of Honour saw its opening numbers sliced in half to $3.22 million on 1316 screens in 18 markets for a total of $12.38 million. The film fell more than 60% during its second weekend in the U.K. adding $546,000 on 347 screens over the weekend for a total of $2.90 million. On the other hand, it was down barely more than 20% in Mexico giving it a sophomore stint of $914,000 on 346 screens over the weekend for a total of $3.23 million.
  • Partners: The Movie fell 44% during its second weekend in Japan, which is high for that market. However, it still managed first place there with $3.13 million on 303 screens for a total of $20.38 million.
  • 21 added $2.24 million on 1319 screens in 35 markets over the weekend for a total of $41.23 million after a month of release.
  • The Bucket List opened in second place Japan with $1.86 million on 223 screens and that helped it climb into ninth place internationally with $2.10 million on 557 screens in 21 markets for a total of $70.02 million.
  • Hidden Fortress: The Last Princess opened in third place in Japan and tenth internationally with $1.73 million on 315 screens.
  • Nim's Island fell more than 50% to $1.48 million on 1385 screens in 14 markets for a total of $22.07 million. The film still has openings in several major markets, but it is very unlikely that the film will turn around its fortunes at this point.
  • Foregtting Sarah Marshall also plummeting falling more than 60% to $1.47 million on 702 screens in 9 markets for a total of $19.53 million. The film doesn't have another major opening till June, while it continues its slow rollout throughout the summer.
  • Fool's Gold is shedding screens and markets down 66% to $1.37 million on 1294 screens in 34 markets for a total of $34.84 million.
  • The same can be said of Street Kings, which was down more than 50% to $1.32 million on 1264 screens in 27 markets for a total of $27.83 million.
  • 88 Minutes returned to the charts in 15th place with $1.26 million on 430 screens in 6 markets for a total of $6.45 million. It debuted in Mexico in fourth place with $536,000 on 210 screens, which is on par with its previous openings.
  • Taken was one of the few holdovers that didn't collapse this week as it was down just 30% to $1.22 million on 397 screens in 5 markets for a total of $25.01 million. It continues to defy the odds in South Korea where it remained in third place with $950,000 on 303 screens over the weekend and now has $12.94 million in total.
  • Horton Hears A Who had the worst week-to-week performance on the charts down 67% to 1.21 million on 2058 screens in 15 markets for a total of $135.76 million. It opens in Japan in July, and it could reach $300 million worldwide if it does well there.
  • Detective Conan: Full Score Of Fear was the only other film to reach $1 million over the weekend as it made $1.15 million on 335 screens over the weekend for a total of $19.89 million. That was enough for the film to place fourth in Japan and 18th internationally.
Welcome to the Sticks slipped below $1 million over the weekend, but it still added $876,000 on 824 screens in 4 markets for a total of $197.84 million. Meanwhile in France, it sold 156,000 more tickets to lift its total to 19.90 million keeping it on pace to reach Titanic's record of 20.64 million tickets. However, it might drop off the radar before then.


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Filed under: International Box Office, Horton Hears a Who, Taken, The Bucket List, What Happens in Vegas..., Fool’s Gold, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Forbidden Kingdom, Nim's Island, Made of Honor, Speed Racer, Street Kings, 88 Minutes, Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis, Bhoothnath, Meitantei Conan: Senritsu no furu sukoa, Kakushi toride no san akunin, Partners: The Movie, 21