XXX Fails to Explode onto Screens

May 4, 2005

While XXX: State of the Union easily took top spot on the international charts, its numbers were clearly lower than anticipated. The film opened in 64 markets, finishing first in 20 of them, but its per screen average was tiny at $14.8 million on 4,800 screens. It did have a few bright spots, mostly in Asia. For instance, the film's best single market performance came in South Korea where it brought in $1.3 million on just 174 screens, but was still a distant second to a local flick. The film did finish first in Thailand with nearly $390,000 on 60 screens ($500,000 including sneak peaks), $240,000 from 50 in the Philippines, $225,000 on 30 in Singapore and $170,000 on 19 in Taiwan. The rest of the film's run was nearly uniformly awful. XXX: State of the Union finished first in Spain with $950,000 on 400 screens, which was a pyrrhic victory at best. The film managed $1.8 million in the U.K. on 493 screens finishing a distant second to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the result was the same in Australia where the film took in $930,000 on 246 screens. Worst of all, the film opened in second place in Germany with $1.19 million on 598 screens, nearly 80% lower than the original managed. The film had similar results in Latin America, $540,000 in Mexico, off more than 75% from the original; Brazil at $360,000 lower by more than 70%, etc. No one was expecting the film to reach the same level as the original, but at this pace the film won't hit $100 million worldwide.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy may have finished a distant second place to XXX: State of the Union overall, but that was only because the latter film opened practically worldwide. In each of the films' head-to-head matches Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy each beat its competition. In the U.K. the film easily took first place with $6.2 million on 465 screens since it opened on Thursday. In Australia the film managed a similar opening with $2.1 million on 244 screens while in New Zealand the won in a close race with Robots with $360,000 on 60 screens. Add it up and the film brought in an amazing $8.7 million on just 769 screens in 3 markets. So what does this mean for the film's worldwide chances of success? Unfortunately it means very little as all three markets were all English speaking. The real test comes when the film opens in Italy (May 6th), Germany (June 9th), France (August 19th) and other foreign language markets. Comedy usually doesn't translate well, so until we see how the film does in these markets we can't get a clear picture. Given that caveat, $100 million internationally is well within target, and pie in the sky it could hit $200 million worldwide. Either way, there should be a sequel.

Without any new openings The Interpreter slipped out of first place with $7.1 million on 2,325 screens in 33 markets for a $39.8 million running tally. Drop-offs were a steeper than last weekend with it falling 42% in Australia to $590,000, 38% in the U.K. to $1.4 million, 43% in Germany to $1.1 million (just missing first place by $50,000) and 47% in Spain to $640,000. In the film's only opening, it finished first in Argentina with $110,000 on 30 screens, nearly double the second place film. This still puts $100 million internationally within reach, but it will need stronger performances in its 19 remaining markets, especially France, Italy and Japan.

The Pacifier fell to fourth place with $6.7 million on 3,000 screens in 24 markets for an international box office of $42 million so far. The highlight of the weekend was Mexico where the film saw its stock grow by 13% to $2.3 million on 400 screens, which lifted its total in the market to $5.3 million. On the other hand, the film nose-dived in Italy, dropping 62% to just $440,000.

Rounding out the top five was Constantine with just $2.97 million on 1,100 screens in 36 markets for an international box office of $142.4 million. Most of that came from Japan where the film saw significant growth, climbing 13% to $2.64 million on 350 screens.

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Filed under: International Box Office, The Pacifier, Constantine, The Interpreter, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, XXX: State of the Union