‘RRR’ Has Roaring Debut; ‘The Batman’ Rises To $673M WW Box Office

TUESDAY UPDATE, writethru: After setting a new opening day record for a local title in India on Friday, S.S. Rajamouli’s RRR (Rise! Roar! Revolt!) continued a strong run in the home market throughout the weekend and picked up an estimated $60M+ globally. Of that, $16M is from outside of India (including $9.5M in North America).

Getting reliable numbers out of India is challenging — there is no centralized reporting system, and it gets even more ornery when a movie is released in several different language versions. However, as we reported on Sunday, the estimate is holding at about $46M (348 crore) for the weekend, coming in just behind Rajamouli’s previous record-setter, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. Globally, comScore is reporting a $63.2M weekend in 21 markets (including North America and India). Some estimates have the worldwide gross on either side of that.

Either way, RRR was the No. 1 movie worldwide this weekend. The Telugu film also had the second best opening weekend ever for an Indian title in North America (again behind Baahubali 2). RRR also topped that film on its opening day in India to set a new all-time record. In IMAX, the global take was $1.5M (including $410K in India) for the second biggest IMAX opening for an Indian pic worldwide and locally.

In other new openers, Paramount’s The Lost City debuted in just 16 smaller markets repping 7% of the international footprint. The $3.7M take for Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum’s romcom adventure is, on a like-for-like basis in the same markets, tracking 50% over Jungle Cruise, 49% ahead of Free Guy, 38% over Central Intelligence and 23% above Spy.

The Middle East region led play at $2M from 238 locations. There were also No. 1 debuts in Indonesia ($490K/from 382), Israel ($265K/34) and Romania ($220K/76). Major overseas markets begin rollout in mid-April including Spain, Australia/New Zealand and the UK, followed a week later by France, Brazil, Mexico, Germany and Korea.

In holdovers, Warner Bros/DC’s The Batman added $25.3M during the session from 76 international markets. That’s another great hold of -49% with Spain dropping just 26%, Australia 31% and Brazil 40%. IMAX crossed the $50M global mark with the Caped Crusader, now at $52.7M, including $21.2M from offshore.

The overseas running cume on the Matt Reeves-directed trip to Gotham is $340.9M for $672.8M worldwide. The UK continues to lead all play at $47.3M, followed by Mexico ($28M), Australia ($24.1M), France ($22M) and Brazil ($20.2M). In China, where The Batman bowed last weekend, during a Covid spike that forced about half the country’s cinemas to close, the total is now $17.8M.

In China this weekend, and for the first time in a long time, three Hollywood films led the frame. The Batman dropped to No. 2 as Roland Emmerich’s Moonfall debuted at No. 1 there and took an estimated RMB 61.8M ($9.7M). It was followed by The Batman, and Sony’s Uncharted with $13.6M to date. (China is still dealing with the Covid surge and Pudong is now headed under lockdown from Monday through April 1.)

Uncharted, for its part, mapped out an extra $7.7M in 55 offshore markets this frame. The international cume is now $223.9M for $357.5M global. Performances are led by the UK ($31.3M), France $(18.8M), Russia ($17.2M), China ($13.6M) and Germany ($12.9M).

After beginning early offshore rollout last weekend, Universal’s Michael Bay crime drama Ambulance added $6.6M in 58 markets this session. The offshore cume is $12.6M ahead of the domestic release on April 8. Holdovers saw a 49% drop while new openers including the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Japan were in line with Wrath Of Man. The Jake Gyllenhaal-starrer had its best debut in France during the frame with $972K at 434 locations and ranking No. 2 behind The Batman. This followed a premiere event last Sunday on the Champs-Elysées with talent in tow. The top markets to date are Saudi Arabia ($2.1M), Mexico ($1.7M), France ($974K), UAE ($769K) and the UK ($686K). Releases still to come include Korea, Australia, Spain and China.

Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys saw just a 30% dip in its holdover markets following an early overseas release last session. The weekend in total was good for $6.5M in 37 markets for an offshore cume of $16.8M. Getting out early on the Pierre Perifel-directed adventure comedy is timed to Easter breaks with Spain leading the charge. The film was again No. 1 in the market, over The Batman, and has now grossed $3.4M with a 22% drop from open. The Top 5 markets to date are rounded out by Mexico ($3.2M), Germany ($1.7M), Brazil ($1.2M) and Argentina ($722K). Up ahead are Italy, Australia, UK, France, China and Korea. Domestic goes April 22.

This week, Sony’s Morbius sinks its teeth into most of the world, beginning rollout on Wednesday in France and Korea.

MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE

Sing 2 (UNI): $3.6M intl weekend (68 markets); $227M intl cume/$387.3M global
Jujutsu Kaison 0 (SNY): $3.1M intl weekend (12 markets); $4.4M Sony offshore cume
Turning Red (DIS): $1.7M intl weekend (12 markets); $11.1M intl cume
Belfast (UNI): $1.3M intl weekend (49 markets); $35.6M intl cume/$45M global
Spider-Man: No Way Home (SNY): $1M intl weekend (58 markets); $1.008B intl cume/$1.888B global
Jackass Forever: $585K intl weekend (20 markets); $21.5M intl cume/$79.2M