
TUESDAY AM UPDATE, WRITETHRU with actuals: Illuminating lightsabers in 54 material overseas markets, Disney/Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi showed its force with a $230.8M opening at the international box office. The figure came in slightly higher than the Sunday estimate and combined with domestic, it puts the global launch at $450.8M.
Episode VIII debuted at No. 1 in all but four offshore hubs and the $230.8M puts Rey, Finn, Poe and the gang in line with pre-opening industry expectations. The debut estimate also means the crystal foxes are running about 22.3% below The Force Awakens (in adjusted dollars). That’s not a surprise given the pent-up demand for a new Star Wars film after such a long wait in 2015. The consensus among sources is that this very well-received entry will benefit from repeat viewings with audiences taking time to digest all the elements — maybe not as long as the sarlacc, but resulting in a slower burn rate than Force Awakens.
We’ll know more as we see how this legs out during the mid-weeks and as holiday breaks kick in. The Force Awakens in 2015 saw a 51% drop in the sophomore session. That included Christmas Day falling on a Friday. This year, it’s a better turnstile configuration with the holiday on a Monday.
The worldwide bounty ranks The Last Jedi as the No. 5 debut ever (No. 3 excluding the China starts of other films — SWTLJ does not go to the Middle Kingdom until January 5). Among its overseas plays, the Rian Johnson-helmed epic is the best bow of 2017 in several majors including the UK which leads with $36.7M.
The UK was also tops on TFA at launch. Behind that market, the rundown of Top 5 opening Jedi plays abroad is in keeping with Force Awakens‘ lineup from two years ago. No.s 2-5 this session are Germany ($23.6M), France ($18.1M), Australia ($15.9M) and Japan ($14.4M). Each of those had the biggest opening of 2017 (in Japan’s case, for a Western title).
IMAX generated $40.6M on 776 screens worldwide, by far the biggest launch weekend of 2017 and the 2nd best global opening weekend ever in the company’s history (excluding China). Internationally, Jedi knighted $16M, the 2nd best overseas bow (excluding China) for the format. In 11 markets, this was IMAX’s best start ever. Jedi will have over 500 IMAX screens in China when it releases there next month.
Speaking of China, there are two new Chinese movies in the Top 5 internationally this weekend, with Feng Xiaogang’s Youth ($48M est) and Yuen Woo-ping’s The Thousand Faces Of Dunjia ($34M est) taking the Nos. 2 and 3 slots (see more below).
Looking to lure audiences to their sides in the coming frame are Universal’s Pitch Perfect 3 which starts in UK, Germany, the Netherlands and elsewhere; and Sony’s Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle which also hits the UK and Germany, along with France, Mexico, Russia and Spain. Fox’s Ferdinand expands to animate further majors. Also of note, Paramount opens Alexander Payne’s Downsizing in the U.S. and Spain. A particular of Payne’s filmography is that his movies over-index in the latter, finishing as either the No. 2 or No. 3 biggest play outside domestic.
Breakdowns and actuals on the current frame’s films have been updated below.
NEW
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI
Force Awakens had a 3.5 multiple overseas (excluding wildcard China which does not go until January 5 on Jedi) and a 55%-45% international-domestic split (which does include China). Episode VIII is expected to have a slower burn rate than TFA and will benefit from repeat viewings over the holiday period (though bear in mind that both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve fall on Sundays which will eat into a portion of next weekend — but having Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on a Monday is a better configuration that it was in 2015 when those were on a Friday).
The biggest play this session was the UK where TLJ was Snokin’ at $36.7M. A royal premiere was held there this past week with all the key cast (save, of course, the dear departed Carrie Fisher who nevertheless loomed large on-screen and in on-stage tributes) and creatives in attendance. Vue Cinemas in Britain scheduled 72 hours straight of screenings beginning Wednesday night/Thursday morning at 12:01AM and reported sold-out showings and tickets bought for even the 3AM and 5AM projections. Many folks got up extra early to see the movie before heading into work. Also in the UK, Disney now has the three highest grossing Saturday’s of all time: The Force Awakens, Beauty And The Beast and Jedi.
The Top 10 rounds out with Germany ($23.6M), France ($18.1M), Australia ($15.9M), Japan ($14.4M), Russia ($8.5M), Spain ($8.3M), Brazil ($7.2M), Italy ($7M) and Mexico ($7M).
Hollis agrees the film is expected to see a slow burn. “In part, the reaction is a reflection of having pulled off one of the hardest things which is to make a film that is totally Star Wars but totally fresh and unexpected and new. It’s creating a conversation” and that’s going to lead to repeat business.”
A question mark remains over China: Can Dis/Lucasfilm grow what they did on The Force Awakens which ultimately came in at $124M. The Middle Kingdom has traditionally had less familiarity with the Star Wars saga, but Disney has done its level-best to increase awareness over the past few years. The Beijing premiere is later this week.
Meanwhile, here are some stats to ponder from this session:
No. 1 in all but four markets, notably Korea ($5.1M) where local title Steel Rain dominated play. Korea is not generally a Top 5 market for Star Wars, and while there may be some work to do with affinity there, opening against a local phenomenon bit into TLJ’s X-wings.
Jedi is the 2nd biggest opening weekend ever in: Australia (behind TFA), Germany (behind TFA), Croatia, Hungary (behind TFA), New Zealand (behind TFA), Norway (behind TFA) and Sweden (behind TFA).
It is the 3rd biggest opening weekend ever in: the UK/Ireland and Denmark.
It scored the biggest opening weekend of 2017 in Australia, France, Germany, Japan (western), Spain, the UK/Ireland, Bosnia, Croatia, Czech Rep, Denmark, Hungary, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland.
IMAX generated $40.6M on 776 screens worldwide, by far the biggest launch weekend of 2017 and the 2nd best global opening weekend ever in the company’s history (excluding China). Internationally, Jedi knighted $16M, the 2nd best overseas bow (excluding China) for the format. In 11 markets, this was IMAX’s best start ever including Japan ($57K per-screen average on 28); France ($102K PSA from 12); Italy, Sweden ($246K PSA from 1); Belgium ($86K PSA from 1); and Denmark ($188K PSA from 2).
In 26 International markets, TLJ was the biggest IMAX opening weekend of 2017. There will be over 500 screens added when China comes online.
FERDINAND
Based on Murno Leaf and Robert Lawson’s book about a gentle giant bull who is taken away from his home, and fights his way back with the help of a misfit team, Ferdinand is aimed at kids who are too young for the Dark Side.
Including previews, Ferdinand opened to No. 1 in Vietnam with $457K which is notable given Disney made a publicity stop in the market with TLJ.
Ferdinand releases in 44 markets next weekend, and is will act as a counter to Jedi for the kids, taking advantage of school holidays globally.
HOLDOVERS/EXPANSIONS
COCO
From Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina, the animated tuner continued an otherworldly run in China where it has now amassed $153.9M, ranking as the 3rd highest animated release ever there behind only Zootopia and Despicable Me 3. It should pass the latter later this week, and has been granted an extension to its play (as was Zootopia last year).
Also notably, Greece was a new play with $200K, up 88% vs Moana. In Singapore, Coco is now the No. 1 industry release of 2017.
China leads all play, followed by Mexico ($57.2M), France ($14.7M), Spain ($10.6M) and Russia ($8.8M).
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
WONDER
DADDY’S HOME 2
JUSTICE LEAGUE
A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS
STXinternational’s comedy sequel put another $3M in the old man’s hat this session, having added five new overseas markets (Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Taiwan). The offshore cume is now $51.3M for $122M worldwide. Ukraine, birthplace of star Mila Kunis, opens December 28.
MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLES
Perfectos Desconocidos (UNI): $1.8M intl weekend (Spain only); $10.3M Spain cume
Thor: Ragnarok (DIS): $1.2M intl weekend (41 markets); $535.4M intl cume ($841.8M worldwide)
Happy Death Day (UNI): $1.1M intl weekend (23 markets); $58.5M intl cume
Girls Trip (UNI): $500K (4 markets); $23.9M intl cume
Victoria And Abdul (UNI): $400K intl weekend (16 markets); $42.6M intl cume
The Foreigner (STX): $370K intl weekend; $105.5M intl cume
The Disaster Artist (WB): $391K intl weekend (3 markets); $2.7M intl cume
Supervacanze Di Natale (UNI): $300K intl weekend (Italy only); $300K Italy cume
Darkest Hour (UNI): $200K intl weekend (China only); $5.2M China cume
The Snowman (UNI): $100K intl weekend (14 markets); $36.4M intl cume
NEW LOCAL-LANGUAGE
Youth chronicles the joys and travails of a provincial military-arts troupe — soldiers in the People’s Liberation Army whose duty it is to promote culture, revolutionary values, music and dance. At the center of the story is He Xiaoping (Miao Miao) a talented dancer from Beijing with a painful family history. Due to her innocence and social status, she quickly becomes a scapegoat and laughing stock amongst her peers. As time passes and the group gradually splinters apart, however, her life takes unexpected turns and she emerges a true heroine.
In September, the coming-of-age drama was abruptly shelved ahead of the Middle Kingdom’s lucrative National Day holiday.
Following Youth on the international chart is The Thousand Faces Of Dunjia. Directed by martial arts legend Yuen Woo-ping and scripted and produced by Tsui Hark, it’s a remake of 1982’s The Miracle Fighters also directed by Yuen. The weekend box office was about $34M in the Middle Kingdom.
December is traditionally the beginning of a blackout period, although some imports are still at play including Darkest Hour, Coco and Paddington 2 which has now made over $25M in Middle Kingdom marmalade sandwiches. The next local title to keep an eye on will be Jackie Chan-starrer Bleeding Steel this coming Friday.
In Korea, Steel Rain dominated play, relegating Star Wars: The Last Jedi to the No. 2 position at open. The action drama from director Yang Woo-suk sees a former North Korean agent team up with the chief of foreign security affairs on a dangerous secret spy mission in order to prevent the Korean war. The weekend box office is an estimated $12M to Jedi’s $5.1M.
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