‘Sonic’ Still Top Hog With $203M WW; ‘Call Of The Wild’ Barks At $15M+

UPDATE, writethru: Paramount’s Sonic The Hedgehog continues to be top critter of the litter at the global and international box office this weekend with an added $38.3M from 56 overseas markets. That brings the offshore cume to $96.5M and worldwide to $203.1M. Sonic raced into an additional 16 hubs this frame, with several No. 1 debuts, led by Russia’s $6.3M at 1,800 locations. The holdover markets saw a mere 35% drop.

So far, the UK leads all play at $19.1M after 10 days and with a No. 1 hold. Mexico has skated to $12.3M and France is at $9.1M coming out of the second frame.

In new entries, Fox/Disney’s The Call Of The Wild barked to $15.4M in 40 material markets. The global weekend was worth $40.2M. Based on Jack London’s American story, the expensive film that Disney inherited is coming in above comps in Europe and most of the Asian markets where it is playing, but is soft in Latin America.

With China still closed, and a spike in coronavirus (Corvid-19) cases in Korea, concern continues to grow in terms of the spread as well as the hit that global box office will take in 2020 (already believed to be near $2B from just the Middle Kingdom). We hear that Disney has moved Pixar’s Onward off of its initial Korea and Taiwan dates, pushing later into April, for example, as other local films are also understood to be hewing the same path.

Elsewhere, in milestones, Sony’s Bad Boys For Life has hit $200M internationally and reached $390M global while the studio’s Little Women is marching to $200M worldwide. Universal’s Dolittle has also reached the two century mark globally. Warner Bros’ Birds Of Prey has now passed $100M overseas.

Also of note, Sam Mendes’ 1917 in the UK (and via eOne) has grossed $54.7M, becoming only the 6th ever +15 or +18 rated release to cross the local £40M threshold.

Next weekend adds Blumhouse’s anticipated The Invisible Man (via Universal) in such majors as France, Germany, the UK, Spain and Mexico.

Breakdowns on this week’s films above and more have been updated below.

NEW
THE CALL OF THE WILD

Disney inherited this expensive Fox title and released in 40 material offshore markets this session, including France, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Australia, Brazil and Mexico. The $15.4M result is not fantastic with No. 3 debuts in Italy, Spain and France; as well as No. 4s in the UK and Germany. They came in above A Dog’s Purpose, but how many canine-fronted films can the world digest over and over, particularly given Jack London’s novel is a staple for schools in the U.S., but not oversees.

In Asia-Pacific markets, this Harrison Ford-starrer was No. 1 in Indonesia and No. 3 in Australia, Philippines and Vietnam. The Mexico debut was No. 2. Next weekend sees openings in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Argentina, notably.

The Top 5 so far are: France ($2.6M), UK ($1.9M), Mexico ($1.4M), Russia ($1.2M) and Italy ($900K).

HOLDOVERS/EXPANSIONS
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

Speeding along, Paramount’s Sonic tallied another $38.3M in 56 markets including 16 new openings. The international cume to date is now $96.5M. Racing along in 73% of the international footprint until Japan opens March 27 (and with China still TBD as with all other movies), the holdover drop this weekend was 35%.

There were No. 1 debuts in most markets again this session for the speedster, led by Russia at $6.3M (1,800 sites) and followed by Peru ($824K/104), Sweden ($673K/127), Belgium ($554K/72) and Philippines ($505K/209).

In the previously opened markets, the UK leads at $19.1M, followed by Mexico with $12.3M and France at $9.1M — each at No. 1.

DOLITTLE
This expensive Universal talking animals pic continues to extend its legs overseas with an $11M weekend bolstered by school holidays. That takes it to $129.7M international and $204.1M global. Russia ($3.9M) and Brazil ($700K) were new this session.

The top market so far (before Japan in March and an undetermined China) is the UK at $18.5M.

BIRDS OF PREY

Warner Bros’ DC spinoff added another $10M this weekend from 78 overseas markets. The offshore cume is $101.2M and the worldwide total is now $173.7M. Still pulling low numbers, the highest grossing market is the UK at $10M, followed by Mexico at $9.7M, Russia at $6.8M, France at $6.6M and Australia at $6.1M.

1917

The international total on Sam Mendes’ drama is approaching $200M with $195.3M from combined Universal and Amblin markets. The weekend was worth $9.3M ($3.1M from UPI markets and $6.2M for Amblin). The award winner has grossed $347.3M worldwide.

Japan was the top hold with $4.8M after the sophomore session and France has grossed $15.8M after six weekends. In the UK, where eOne is handling for Amblin, the movie has topped £40M, now at $54.7M, becoming only the 6th movie to that mark while carrying a +15 or +18 rating.

New this weekend was Korea where overall box office is down due to the spreading of the coronavirus. The film came in at No. 2 with $2.13M.

BAD BOYS FOR LIFE

Sony’s threequel has reached $200M at the international box office, adding $8.1M this session and taking the global total to $390M. Holdover business continues to be solid, at -45% in the frame. Italy was the new play, riding up at No. 2 with $1.1M. In total BBFL is in 60 markets. The Top 5 is comprised of the UK ($20M), Germany ($16.8M), France ($12.7M), Mexico ($12.5M) and Australia ($12.5M).

THE GENTLEMEN

Miramax’s Guy Ritchie pic opened in five new offshore markets: the Netherlands, Finland, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Uruguay. Collectively, it grossed an estimated $6.6M from 24 hubs this weekend. That brings the offshore total to $53.9M including $12M from Russia.

The running cume is 30% ahead of The Hitman’s Bodyguard and 8% ahead of Knives Out in like-for-like markets.

MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE

Fantasy Island (SNY): $3.9M intl weekend (39 markets); $13.6M intl cume ($33.8M global)
Little Women (SNY): $3.4M intl weekend (55 markets); $92.1M intl cume ($199M global)
Richard Jewell (WB): $2.7M intl weekend (23 markets); $17M intl cume ($39.4M global)
Emma (UNI): $2.4M intl weekend (11 markets); $8.4M intl cume ($8.7M global)
Jojo Rabbit (DIS): $1.8M intl weekend (33 markets); $53.2M intl cume ($86M global)
Jumanji: The Next Level (SNY): $1.3M intl weekend (47 markets); $477M intl cume ($788M global)
Queen & Slim (UNI): $200K intl weekend (4 markets); $1.7M intl cume ($45.5M global)
The Lighthouse (UNI): $200K intl weekend (19 markets); $6.7M intl cume ($17.6M global)