‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ Doesn’t Find Salvation Overseas; ‘Joker’ Jumps To $934M WW As It Seriously Eyes $1B – International Box Office

UPDATE,writethru: Paramount/Skydance/Fox’s Terminator: Dark Fate found little salvation in its wider offshore rollout this weekend. Handled overseas by Disney, it came in below pre-weekend projections, grossing $72.9M in 48 material markets (including a soft $28M from China where Tencent Pictures is handling). Along with the early releases and holds from last session, the international box office cume is now $94.6M. Globally, TDF has $123.6M.

While Dark Fate was No. 1 in 23 openings, offshore audiences appear to agree with domestic and just didn’t feel compelled to see yet another Terminator movie that was more of the same — even if it was designed as a follow-up to Terminator 2: Judgement Day and brought Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton and James Cameron back together.

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One international distribution source contends that moviegoers are confused as to what this movie is, “It’s sad, it was just a non-event.” Aggravating matters, the emerging markets that would normally help to prop up a sci-fi actioner aren’t really plugged into the stars from the earlier films. Although this person calls Dark Fate, “a pretty satisfying movie for people who like the franchise,” they add, “studios have to come up with fresh ideas — going back to the well is just not doing it. It’s a shame, but if ever there was a time to retire a franchise, this is it.” As Anthony has noted, breakeven for Dark Fate lies around $480M+, according to finance sources. Overall, international is not expected to have legs with a potential total under $200M.

Already, last week’s early starts in 10 markets were not pretty at $12.6M (partly that’s also because Joker has such a stranglehold on Europe — see below — and did not leave much breathing room). Asia Pacific was expected to be the most muscular play this session, and Korea did score a No. 1 debut with $9.8M, while Indonesia ($3.4M) was the only other new SE Asia market in the Top 10. Hopes for Latin America (where family and horror are the predilection) were dashed with Mexico the sole market in the Top 10, at $2.6M (currency fluctuations in much of Latin America exacerbate the issue).

Also, by Friday night it became clear that China wasn’t taking the Dark Fate bait either. One mitigating factor in that market is local movie Better Days which is enjoying a particularly strong run ($45M weekend for $164M local estimated cume). But Dark Fate‘s fate is pretty well sealed there. It has an 8.7 on Maoyan, only slightly below Terminator: Genisys, but won’t get anywhere near that film’s $113M final. Next weekend adds Japan, notably.

Having better luck at making a return, Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil dipped 38% to pluck another $40.5M and get thisclose to $300M at the international box office. The global cume is now $383.2M.

And just below the sorceress, Joker is far from playing out his hand. Warner Bros/Village Roadshow/Bron Studios’ dancing clown has strutted to an incredible $934M at the global box office after the 5th frame, making Joker the first R-rated movie ever to pass the nine-century milestone. Todd Phillips’ supervillain origins story is very seriously eyeing the $1B global mark – and without China in the mix. A feat previously achieved by… The Dark Knight.

After truly startling holds in the past few weeks, Joker dropped by a scant 24% at the international box office this weekend, grossing $37M from 10,600 screens in 79 markets. The offshore cume is now $634.4M.

Tallying up the milestones to date, Joker is the No. 1 WB movie ever in 19 markets and the highest grossing DC movie ever in 36 markets. In Europe, where Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck won’t loosen up, the movie has been No. 1 for five straight weeks, dropping just 17% this session. And in Latin America, he’s topped Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice to lead the biggest WB and DC title of all time regionally.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros also started a soft early rollout on Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep in nine European markets, picking up $5.6M on 2,521 screens.

Breakdowns on the films above and more have been updated below.

NEW
DOCTOR SLEEP

Warner Bros began offshore rollout on The Shining continuation in nine European markets ahead of wider release next session and throughout November (WB had tubthumped the pic with extended footage at last June’s CineEurope). This frame, the Ewan McGregor-starrer took in an estimated $5.6M on 2,521 screens.

The UK was the lead market with $1.9M from 1,003 screens to rank No. 4 and track on par with the opening of Pet Semetary and 46% above Don’t Breathe.

Italy grossed $1.3M from 415 at No. 5 and more than double Pet Semetary and A Quiet Place. France grossed $986K on 381 for 25% higher than Don’t Breathe. Spain was in line with Don’t Breathe and A Quiet Place at $748K from 385.

The film next weekend hits Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, Korea and Australia among others. It sees McGregor as Danny Torrance who previously survived his father’s murderous rampage at the Overlook hotel. When Dan meets a tween girl with the same ability “to shine,” they combine their abilities to track and thwart a cult called The True Knot, which feeds off of the life force of children to prolong their own lives.

Doctor Sleep also stars Rebecca Ferguson and newcomer Kyliegh Curran. Mike Flanagan directs from his own screenplay, based on the King novel.

HOLDOVERS/EXPANIONS
TERMINATOR: DARK FATE

This 6th Terminator installment came in below projections in its wider offshore rollout this weekend at an additional $72.9M including a disappointing $28M from China which was the lead market on Terminator: Genisys last time around. As noted above, an overabundance of sequels from the cyborg’s heyday is being cited as a major factor for soft numbers. It nevertheless was the No. 1 movie internationally and globally ($101.9M) this session, but is not expected to have legs and could finish at under $200M offshore. The current overseas cume, after a rocky start last weekend, is $94.6M for $123.6M global.

The Paramount/Skydance Media/Fox tentpole is released overseas by Disney as part of its inheritance of Fox titles. At a reported cost of $185M, finance sources tell us breakeven for Dark Fate is around $480M+.

There were 23 No. 1 debuts in this frame, including in Australia, Korea and Mexico. However, the rest of South East Asia and Latin America did not turn up in droves. The hope had been that Latin America leaned in, but that didn’t happen. In Asia, China leads (more below) while Korea and Indonesia were the best plays for the region during this launch.

China, where Tencent Pictures has the movie, saw a $28M opening weekend that came in far lower than what many were projecting ahead of the weekend. Genisys in 2015 debuted in China on a Sunday with $27M on that day alone. It’s worth noting that there was no talent travel to the market for Dark Fate and that local pic Better Days has been sucking up a lot of air since it got a surprise release last weekend after having been shelved by censors over the summer.

In Europe, the holdover markets that opened last weekend to take advantage of school holidays saw some good holds Belgium (+5%), Germany (-9%), Switzerland (-18%), Austria (-25%), France (-32%) and the UK (-42%).

In IMAX, Dark Fate grossed $6M overseas (of which China was $2.9M). The global IMAX cume to date is now $10.4M.

Overall, the Top 5 offshore markets are China ($28M), Korea ($9.8M), UK ($6.9M), France ($5.8M) and Russia ($4.2M).

Next weekend adds the final suite of hubs including Japan, Poland, Taiwan, Norway and Bolivia.

MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL

Some solid holds here for Disney’s sequel with a 38% drop from last weekend internationally with the sorceress conjuring up another $40.5M. That lifts the offshore cume to $298.9M, so $300M is assured while $400M global is on deck as the Angelina Jolie-starrer is at $383.2M through Sunday. The film did good midweek business and has now topped the lifetimes of the previous film in 11 markets including China, France, Korea and Russia.

Europe, aided by the All Saints holiday, dropped by just 23%, providing an alternative to the Joker juggernaut, and saw weekend increases in Belgium (+65%), Switzerland (+16%), Portugal (+9%) and Spain (+8%). Also regionally, strong holds included Germany (-3%), Sweden (-6%), France (-8%), Italy (-9%), Austria (-9%), Poland (-13%), UK (-15%), Czech Rep (-28%), Ukraine (-33%), Israel (-39%) and South Africa (-39%).

Asia Pacific is led by China with $47M to date. Japan, a massive market on the first movie, dipped 39% for a cume of just $9.4M so far. Elsewhere, MMOE is the all-time highest grossing Disney Live Action release in both Malaysia and Thailand.

Within Latin America, where the overall region dropped 31%, strong holds included Peru (-11%), Ecuador (-14%), Argentina (-22%), Brazil (-31%), Panama (-31%) and Mexico (-39%).

The Top 5 markets are China ($47M), Russia ($28.2M), Mexico ($19.2M), France ($15.3M) and the UK ($14.9M). (In London, the title character’s headgear was a nearly ubiquitous sight on Halloween…)

JOKER

It’s on. Joker is headed to a groundbreaking $1B at the global box office. With $934M through Sunday, the Warner Bros/Village Roadshow/Bron Studios dark origins tale has every shot at hitting that mark throughout the rest of its run. It may take a bit of time and include play through awards season, but it is now expected to do the unexpected (as most results with this film have been) and become the only R-rated film to ever cross the threshold. What makes this already historic trajectory even more impressive is that it will do it without the benefit of a China release to bolster grosses. Should this come to pass, it would be a similar feat to that of The Dark Knight which never got to the Middle Kingdom but did over $1B in its original run.

The weekend-to-weekend holds on the Todd Phillips-directed film have been staggering. In the 30s for the past two frames, this session was down just 24% for another $37M in 79 markets. The overseas cume is now $634.4M.

Milestones are noted above, but are worth mentioning again: Highest grossing WB film ever in 19 markets, top DC movie ever in 36, No. 1 in Europe for five weeks and the No. 1 WB and DC title of all time in Latin America.

This weekend, France led all play at No.1 with another $5.4M from 747 screens, dropping just 8%. The cume is $35.7M. In Germany, another $4.3M at No. 2 behind a local pic was good for an 11% dip and a $32.9M cume. The UK, which leads all play, saw a 29% drop at No. 1 for a $64.1M cume (and interestingly, during the week I just spent in London, there was very little outdoor advertising for the movie — most busses and billboards were focused on the Apple TV series launches…).

Japan slipped 17% for a $37.5M total to date, and Spain increased by 8% for $27.3M so far. Italy also bopped up the stairs by 7% for $30.2M.

The Top 5 in the running cumes are the UK ($64.1M), Mexico ($41.7M), Japan ($37.5M), Korea ($37.3M) and France ($35.7M).

THE ADDAMS FAMILY

MGM’s animated comedy made its offshore debut last session and this time around added a total $25.9M. Universal is releasing in most markets (32 so far including 14 new this session) and grossed $19.3M this weekend. The non-Universal hubs snapped up $6.6M in the frame. Together, the international total is now $44M for $129.3M worldwide.

Russia had an excellent $6.1M No. 1 bow at 1,568 locations to track ahead of Hotel Transylvania by 108%. Brazil was the next best start at $1.3M from 586 and in line with HT. In holds, the UK has now grossed $8.9M, followed by Mexico with $5.4M and Spain at $4.2M after a 34% weekend jump.

Still to come are Korea, France and Australia among majors.

MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE

Abominable (UNI): $7.7M intl weekend (58 markets); $101.2M intl cume (including $14.9M from Pearl in China for $159.7M global)
Zombieland: Double Tap (SNY): $7M intl weekend (45 markets); $27.8M intl cume ($87.1M global)
Gemini Man (PAR): $4.5M intl weekend (55 markets); $115.1M intl cume ($155M global)
It Chapter Two (WB): $3.3M intl weekend (Japan only); $245.8M intl cume ($457.1M global)
Downton Abbey (UNI): $2.2M intl weekend (29 markets); $84.1M intl cume ($178.6M global)
Hustlers (STX): $1.97M intl weekend (50 markets); $35.6M intl cume ($140M global)
Countdown (STX): $1.1M intl weekend (23 markets); $3.7M intl cume ($21.5M global)
Yesterday (UNI): $300K intl weekend (6 markets); $77.2M intl cume ($150.5M global)

LOCAL LANGUAGE

Germany got in on the Perfect Strangers action this weekend with Das Perfekte Geheimnis. The Constantin remake of the Italian hit made an impressive $11.6M according to comScore. The comedy comes from Fack Ju Gohte filmmakers Bora Dagtekin and Lena Schömann and is set at a dinner party during which each person must put their cell phone in the middle of the table — all messages and calls that subsequently arrive are shared. What begins as harmless fun soon becomes an emotional mess, full of surprising twists and delicate revelations. The 2016 original garnered 2.7M admissions in Italy and has been remade in a number of offshore markets since.