
UPDATE, writethru: The horror genre was the biggest global draw this weekend, demonstrating that the communal theatrical experience of scary movies is alive and well. New Line/Warner Bros’ The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It led the international box office with $26.8M from 43 markets while Paramount’s A Quiet Place Part II saw its sophomore frame add $19.2M. The films were bolstered by domestic which continues to see audience appetite for returning to cinemas.
The Conjuring 3 went out early in just two offshore hubs last session and expanded with another 41 markets this weekend. The latest in the hit horror series that returns paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren has pushed the group of seven films to $1.86B global, the top horror franchise ever. For this James Wan-helmed installment, the overseas total is now $33.1M and $57.1M worldwide.
Conjuring 3 ranked No. 1 in 31 of its launch markets this frame and, in like-for-likes, is tracking 12% above Annabelle and 30% over the first Conjuring at today’s rates. Mexico, which leans into horror, was the top play this weekend with $6.7M at 3,090 locations. As Korea rebounds, it put Conjuring 3 at No. 1 for a $3.1M start at 900 sites. Coming out of its sophomore session, the UK leads all play at $7.5M. There are still 29 markets to come over the next few months (see more below).
Still topping China’s box office, Universal’s F9 has crossed $250M internationally with $256M through Sunday in just eight markets. The weekend was worth $13.4M for a 57% drop from the last session, which had seen a hefty 81% dip.
Columbia Pictures’ Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway scampered off with another $4M from 14 markets, down just 20% to cume $45.8M ahead of its China and North American releases this coming Friday.
And, we are hearing that Demon Slayer – Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train has indeed passed the $500M global mark, but are still waiting on those pesky official figures to attribute a precise number. The Sony Pictures Releasing International cume is $3.1M of the total, hailing from 719 screens in two markets. In Russia, Demon Slayer ranks as the highest grossing anime film ever and the top Japanese production with $1.7M.
Breakdowns on the films above and more have been updated below.
HOLDOVERS
THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT
The start in Mexico was good for a strong $6.7M on 3,090 screens and a 71% share. This is the second biggest opening post-pandemic, running on par with Annabelle Comes Home and more than double the original Conjuring.
Korea got off to a $3.1M start on 900 screens, 46% above Annabelle Comes Home and 150% over The Curse Of La Llorona. Indonesia kicked off with $2.2M from 1,300, topping A Quiet Place 2 by 49% and 287% above the first Conjuring. In Australia, where cinemas are still closed in Victoria (30% of the market), a $2.2M launch on just 199 screens was the third best bow for a Conjuring movie. Spain chimed in with $1.8M from 454, also the third best debut in the series. Horror hungry Brazil scored the best start of the pandemic era at $1.6M from 913, ahead of the Annabelles and double the original film. The UK has grossed $7.5M after two frames.
In like-for-like markets and at today’s rates, Conjuring 3 is running ahead of Annabelle by 12% and above the first Conjuring by 30%. Total international admissions to date are 5.6M. Another 12 markets open next weekend including France, Russia and Argentina.
A QUIET PLACE PART II
The UK launched this session at No. 1 with a fantastic $5.1M including previews at 563 locations. In IMAX, AQP2 drew $430K from the UK, the strongest bow in the market since Tenet last year. Russia was also a No. 1 start at $4M from 1,700 locations. Poland, which is just getting back up and running, gave AQP2 a $245K No. 1 debut at 157 sites and Israel opened No. 2 with $125K at 30.
In holds, China’s second frame delivered $7M from 10,639 locations. AQP2 is still running No. 3 in the market behind F9 and Stand By Me Doraemon 2, but with just a 52% drop, the local cume after 10 days is $29M and the film looks set to overtake the previous installment’s RMB 221M.
Australia dipped just 40% to cume $6.1M. Indonesia’s total is $2.6M after a 61% drop and New Zealand has taken $1.2M, off just 23% from opening.
There are 22 markets set to open next week including Mexico (IMAX will add 65 screens in 18 markets). On deck after that are France, Korea, Japan, Spain, Italy, Germany and Brazil through July 15.
CRUELLA
China opened on Sunday in fourth place with $1.8M. Social sentiment is very good, but Maoyan is eyeing a very low finish which could certainly change in the coming days. However, piracy has to be a concern and there is a holiday ahead next weekend which will usher in a handful of local films.
Elsewhere, Cruella scored a No. 2 bow in Russia with $2.4M, 23% ahead of Mulan. Second weekend holds were higher in several markets including Switzerland (+83%), Portugal (+58%), Brazil (+19%), Korea (+9%), Spain (+7%) and Colombia (+4%). The drop was zero in Ukraine and other areas were just a touch off including Japan (-3%), Australia (-6%), Poland (-6%), New Zealand (-8%), Italy (-15%), Mexico (-16%), UK (-18%), Ecuador (-19%) and Hong Kong (-25%).
The Top 5 markets to date are the UK ($6.2M), Mexico ($5.8M), Korea ($5.7M), Australia ($2.6M) and Russia ($2.4M). Next weekend adds Belgium, Czech Republic and Hungary with France due on June 23 — it will be a purely theatrical play in the latter market despite the presence of Disney+.
F9
In Korea, F9 is gunning 16% below Furious 7 with a cume of $17.7M to notch the biggest gross for a Hollywood movie across both 2020 and 2021. In Russia, it has surpassed the lifetime of Fast 6 and is performing above Hobbs & Shaw with a $15.9M cume. The Top 5 is rounded out by Saudi Arabia ($6.9M) and UAE ($5.1M).
The IMAX global cume has risen to $21M, of that, $17.9M is from China, nearly 9% of the nationwide total. Australia is the next market to open, on June 17, followed by Brazil, Mexico and the UK the following session in step with domestic.
PETER RABBIT 2: THE RUNAWAY
MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE
Wrath Of Man (MIR): $2.7M intl weekend (35 markets); $62.1M intl cume/$86.7M global
Nobody (UNI): $773K intl weekend (38 markets); $21.9M intl cume/$48M global
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