‘Aquaman’ Splashes To $483M WW; ‘Spider-Verse’ Leads China; ‘Bumblebee’ Bows With $31M – International Box Office

Refresh for latest…: Riding another wave at the international box office, Warner Bros/DC’s Aquaman scored a hat trick as the top movie for the third consecutive overseas frame. Reeling in $91.3M from 70 markets this weekend, the heir to Atlantis raised the offshore cume to $410.7M. Along with the domestic start, the global tally is $482.8M. That figure will reach the $500M mark with Monday’s grosses.

The James Wan-helmed origins story is tracking as the highest-grossing title in the DCEU at 22% above Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, 52% above Justice League and 86% ahead of Wonder Woman in like-for-likes and at the same point in release. In China, the run continues to go swimmingly with a local total of $232.8M (RMB 1.6B). Jason Momoa’s Aquaman/Arthur Curry now has bragging rights to leading the 7th biggest import film ever in the Middle Kingdom where the studio recoups 25% of the turnstile take. Majors Australia, Italy and Japan are still to dive into action over the coming weeks.

With the Christmas holiday fast approaching, kids off from school in many markets and no Star Wars movie dominating the galaxy, there were varied offerings in different areas this session. Paramount’s Bumblebee and Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns were new while Sony’s Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse expanded, notably swinging into China with a $26.1M start. The animated webslinger’s debut is the 4th best launch of all time for a Hollywood toon, and the best of the genre this year in the Middle Kingdom. In total, 53 Spidey markets in play this session snared $38M for a $64.8M overseas cume. Markets to come include Mexico, Italy, Brazil and Japan.

Bumblebee, the well-reviewed Travis Knight-helmed origin story, doesn’t go to China, a huge Transformers market, until January 4. In the meantime, it buzzed into its first 38 hubs with $31.1M. Russia has put $4.9M in the tank from 1,200 locations, having held previews last weekend when it opened at No. 2. This frame came in at No. 4. South East Asia openers delivered No. 1s and 2s at bow, including Indonesia ($4.9M from 328 sites), Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. Bumblebee this weekend is out in just 34% of the overseas footprint with 17 markets joining in the coming week.

As expected in the UK, Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns elbowed Aquaman out of the No. 1 spot as the Emily Blunt-starrer began its staggered offshore rollout. The full start in 17 markets was $20.3M with the UK lighting up $9.4M to triple the debuts of The Greatest Showman and Into The Woods. This weekend was all about Europe for Mary while international releases continue through February.

In milestones, Universal/Illumination’s The Grinch crossed $400M worldwide off strong holds in Europe, including increases in both Germany and the UK. Disney’s Ralph Breaks The Internet crossed $300M global with a No. 1 launch in Japan.

Breakdowns on the films above and more are being updated below.

MORE…

Source: Read Full Article