‘Rogue One’ Rises To $980M+ Global; ‘Passengers’ Books Overseas No. 1 – International Box Office

UPDATE Writethru Wednesday AM with Sun/Mon actuals: As it closes in on $1B worldwide, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was nevertheless edged out of the No. 1 spot at the international box office for the first time this past frame. The 5th session on the Disney/Lucasfilm franchise spinoff saw the Rebel Alliance gather $21.1M to lift the offshore cume to $480.4M through Sunday. With a $984.8M global total through Monday, Jyn Erso and her crew are expected to bridge the gap to $1B this weekend. But it was Sony’s Passengers which booked the No. 1 slot with a $32.3M frame that’s essentially flat with last week. The international cume on that pic is now $146.9M, global is about $238M.

*Actuals for all films reporting have been updated throughout the below. Because of the MLK holiday in the States, most numbers came in late for international and in certain cases the totals reflect a 4-day offshore weekend (as noted).

Passengers was boosted by a $17.25M Middle Kingdom bow following heavy promotion and marketing tie-ins, as well as a personal visit to Beijing by stars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt. The January 13 opening gives the film about two weeks of unfettered play before the Lunar New Year deluge of local pics.

For a market where sci-fi is not as popular as fantasy, superhero and action movies, it’s interesting to note that three films in the genre have been dated back-to-back to kick off the year. Rogue One opened last week, and despite the presence of local stars didn’t light the box office on fire. It was followed by Passengers this week in an opening that was a little over half what Rogue One did. Next week, we have Arrival, Denis Villeneuve’s lyrical and pensive spaceship invasion title that’s also factoring in awards season.

China was in a major funk in 2016, and 2017 is a question mark for now. Lunar New Year should give it a boost, particularly given the impending release of Journey To The West: Demon Chapter, the Tsui Hark-helmed follow up to Stephen Chow’s 2013 hit.

Overall, the international box office this weekend was down 29% on last week across the Top 10. The Top 3 pics last session are still in that same grouping this week, just in different order. Behind Passengers, but ahead of Rogue One is Fox’s Assassin’s Creed which about halved last week’s haul (see below for breakdowns).

Versus last year, we’re seeing only a 5% dip across the Top 10. At the time, The Force Awakens was still leading international with a nearly $50M weekend while a pre-Oscars The Revenant was revving up offshore at over $32M.

Coming up this week, Paramount’s xXx: Return Of Xander Cage will storm domestic and offshore turnstiles in near-day-and-date global release. The action-packed pic, whose trailer hit 100M views in two days in November, boasts an international cast that includes Rogue One’s Donnie Yen along with Kris Wu, Tony Jaa and Deepika Padukone. She recently traveled home to India with Diesel ahead of this weekend’s early launch there, which was worth $4.2M in two days of paid 3D previews for the biggest January opening weekend of a Hollywood title ever. The DJ Caruso-helmed pic heads to China on February 10.

See below for more on this weekend’s milestones and breakdowns on all titles reporting.

PREVIOUS, 9:37 AM PT: Disney/Lucasfilm’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is nearing the $1B mark worldwide with a cume through Monday of $984.8M. At the international box office, the Rebel Alliance made away with $480.4M through Sunday while domestic will crossed $500M on Monday. With a $21.1M offshore weekend, Rogue dipped by 61% versus last frame which had included a $32M start in China.

This session, Rogue steps out of the No. 1 spot at the offshore box office for the first time since its mid-December release. Sony’s Passengers is expected to take its place as the Jennifer Lawrence/Chris Pratt-starrer booked a $32.3M weekend overseas, including $17.25M in the Middle Kingdom where it is also No. 1. The international cume is now fast-approaching $150M. Also topping Rogue in the Sunday estimates is Fox’s Assassin’s Creed with a $23.1M weekend for $132.7M to date overseas.

In other offshore turnstile action, Illumination/Universal’s Sing crossed $400M global on Monday; Disney’s Moana has become the No. 1 2016 release in France and lifted the international cume above $250M; Legendary/Universal’s The Great Wall is thisclose to $200M overseas; and La La Land has traipsed past $50M offshore for a $132M cume worldwide to date. Paramount’s xXx: Return Of Xander Cage opened in India this weekend and we will have those numbers tomorrow.

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

NEW
LIVE BY NIGHT

The Ben Affleck-directed and starring period crime drama grossed an estimated $3M this weekend from 2,834 screens in 25 territories (it’s at $3.3M through Monday). Warner Bros is staggering release internationally with the major markets this frame the UK ($850K/464 screens/No. 2) and Russia ($687K/878/No. 5). The latter is 70% higher than the debuts of The Town and Argo. Taiwan also opened with $212K from 93 for No. 2 and 34% higher than Black Mass. The latter is a comp picture which ultimately grossed $37.2M overseas. An ensemble cast leads the adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s novel set around a Boston gangster during Prohibition. France, Australia, Spain and Germany open over the coming weeks.

THE BYE BYE MAN

STX’s horror pic, which is doing solid business domestically, brought in an estimated $1.3M from 630 locations in 11 international markets. Highlights of the Stacy Title-helmed pic include the UK which opened No. 7, but ahead of new entries Underworld: Blood Wars and Manchester By The Sea. At 291 locations, it grossed $700K. The Netherlands bowed on par with STX’s The Boy at $125K from 41. Belgium scored $900K at 28. The first horror offering of the year, which comes amid a crowded field of big-budget sci-fi pics and awards-season contenders, will next release in the Middle East, Philippines and Sweden this month, followed by Brazil in February, Mexico in March, Italy and Germany in April and Spain in May.

HOLDOVERS/EXPANSIONS
PASSENGERS

Pulling into China this weekend, Sony’s Jennifer Lawrence/Chris Pratt-starrer landed a $17.25M No. 1 slot, overtaking Rogue One in that film’s 2nd frame. The full weekend on the Morten Tyldum sci-fi pic was $32.3M in 65 markets, also displacing Rogue for the top international spot. The offshore cume is now $146.9M through Sunday with Japan still to launch on March 24. The worldwide cume is $238M.

The film, presented in association with LStar Capital, Village Roadshow Pictures, and Wanda Pictures, had a China debut on 12K screens and is in the same range as Gravity for the FSS. Lawrence and Pratt, both well-liked stars in the Middle Kingdom, traveled to Beijing in December to promote the pic with a press conference and photo call, junket style interviews, a red carpet event, and an appearance on The Star’s Day TV program. Promotional and marketing collaborations included with Philips, British Airline, Weibo, Baidu, Didi Taxi (China’s Uber), Xiaomi, Mtime, and all of the ticketing apps. Passengers also had a local theme song tie-in with popular music talent G.E.M which she sang on the New Year Count Down Gala Event held and live-broadcasted by Hunan Satellite TV. There’s not much in the way of competition next frame, although it will be the third China session in a row with a sci-fi title thrown into the mix; in this case Arrival arrives on January 20.

Elsewhere on Passengers, Germany held No. 1 for the 2nd weekend with a local cume of $8.2M to date. Australia (where Roadshow distributes) fell 39% for an $8.3M cume. France was at $8.1M after the 3rd session. Brazil has now awoken $5.7M in box office to date.

ASSASSIN’S CREED

Fox’s adaptation of the hit Ubisoft videogame added $23.1M from 79 markets this weekend, including No. 1s in 14. Brazil was the biggest opener on the Michael Fassbender/Marion Cotillard-starrer at $3.96M, up 29% from comp Warcraft. Korea bowed to $2.1M at No. 5. Russia and Mexico, among others, each held the No. 1 spot with cumes of $13.9M and $6.7M, respectively. The international total is now $132.7M with Argentina up next week and Japan in March.

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

Dipping to the No. 3 spot internationally in its 5th frame, Rogue One grossed $21.1M in 53 material markets, a 61% drop versus last frame. That’s largely down to an underperformance in China where the weekend was $9.8M for a $53.4M cume. Moviegoers are still finding it difficult to connect with the franchise, despite the presence of two local stars in key roles. By comparison, The Force Awakens last year fell 53% overall in its 5th frame, but didn’t drop out of No. 1 internationally until the 6th.

Still, there’s precious little to be nitpicking at here. The standalone spinoff is closing in on $1B worldwide with a $480.4M cume through Sunday offshore, crossing $500M on Monday domestically.

The UK this session dropped by just 43% with Rogue One now the 11th highest grossing film of all time there with an estimated $77.5M. China falls in line after the UK in terms of top overseas markets. In Europe, the main box office now comes from France and Germany which dropped by 48% and 55%, respectively. Scandinavia continues to post the strongest holds within the region. In Asia, both Australia and Japan posted strong holds of -39% and -40%.

Below the UK and China, the top markets are Germany ($43.6M), Japan ($35.3M) and France ($35M).

LA LA LAND

Lionsgate’s Golden Globe winner tuned up a jazzy offshore FSS frame of $17.8M to lift the international box office to $54.8M, including a stellar debut in the UK. Worldwide, the cume is projected at $132M through tomorrow. In the UK, where Damien Chazelle’s contemporary ode to old Hollywood scored 11 BAFTA nominations last Tuesday, it sashayed into the No. 1 spot with a $7.3M debut at 606 locations (including previews). This is Lionsgate UK’s widest release ever and is tops the opening weekend of The Hunger Games by 22% in local currency (£6M vs £4.9M). With Universal releasing in Spain, the weekend there was double expectations at $2M on 243 screens for No. 1. Uni reports it is selling out shows and outpacing comps like The Artist, Sweeney Todd and Les Miserables. The awards-season darling is now in 50 overseas markets with Brazil, France, Italy and China among plays still to come. For the full rundown on this weekend’s milestones, check out my separate report here.

MOANA

In her 8th weekend navigating international waters, Disney’s Moana added $17.7M in 40 material territories. The international cume has lifted past $250M to hit $252.1M through Sunday and $254M with Monday for a global cume of $487.4M through Monday. Notably, the pint-sized Polynesian has now grossed $33M in France to make the film the No. 1 title among 2016 releases. France leads all markets, followed by China ($32.5M), the UK ($21.7M), Italy ($14.2M) and Australia ($13.8M).

Korea opened this weekend with $4.7M for the 3rd highest launch ever for a Disney Animation title behind Frozen and Big Hero 6. Overall, Moana is holding well with a 43% drop from last frame in like-for-like markets. France dropped by 30% and the UK by 18% with the No. 4 spot in the 7th frame. A 22% drop in New Zealand keeps Moana at No. 1 for the 3rd weekend in a row. In Brazil, the film has amassed $11.1M after just 11 days. Moana is also now the highest grossing movie of all-time in French Polynesia. Japan is still on deck on March 10.

SING

The Illumination Entertainment and Universal let’s-put-on-a-show pic crossed $400M worldwide on Monday ($403.7M) after an international weekend (including Monday) of $14M in 61 territories for a total $166.2M. There were no new openings this weekend, although Australia held No. 1 for the 3rd week at a cume of $16.7M. Other top totals include Germany at $17.6M; Spain’s $13.9M; Mexico’s $11.9M; and Korea with $10.9M. The next markets are France on January 25, the UK on January 27, China on February 17, Russia on March 2 and Japan on March 17.

THE GREAT WALL

Legendary and Universal’s Matt Damon-starring fantasy has a total international cume of $194.5M through Monday with much play still to come. There were six openings this frame on the epic Zhang Yimou helmed China co-production. Universal now has it in 25 with a $9.1MM weekend for a $30.3M cume to date. Adding in another $1.2M in China (cume $160M+), where Legendary East is handling, the full offshore frame was $10.5M. France opened to No. 1 with $2.4M at 376 dates, on pace with Wrath Of The Titans and well ahead of Dracula Untold, Gods Of Egypt, Immortals and 47 Ronin. Germany was a No. 2 bow with $2.1M at 497 dates. There, it’s in line with Wrath, Dracula Untold and Immortals, and above Gods Of Egypt and 47 Ronin.

WHY HIM?
The Fox comedy wooed another $9.4M from moviegoers in 56 markets with solid introductions in Russia ($1.9M), Germany ($1.4M), Spain ($702K), Austria ($434K/No. 1) and Belgium ($303K/No. 1). Notably, the film is topping comps like Neighbors and Daddy’s Home in many of its plays. The international cume is now $37.9M with releases in France and Italy later this month.

ALLIED
Paramount’s WWII love & spy story grossed $8.4M from 44 markets this weekend including 14 new openings. The international cume is now $62.2M. Korea ($2.4M/No. 4), Italy ($1.9M) and Mexico ($1.4M) were the top starts. The next major releases are Japan and Brazil in February.

COLLATERAL BEAUTY

Will Smith is showing staying power in Italy where Collateral Beauty dropped 26% to hold the No. 1 spot in the 2nd week with $2.3M for a local cume of $6.8M through Monday. The total weekend was $5.9M on 2,781 screens in 55 territories for a $39.2M cume. Australia bowed with $629K from 210 screens, rising to $693K with Monday in cluded; Colombia debuted to $508K from 192, ranking No. 2 and surpassing all comps ($556K through Monday); and Argentina also opened to strong results at $386K on 122. At No. 2, the Warner Bros title surpassed nearly all comps there and is on par with Focus. Including Monday, it’s at $433K. Germany opens next weekend with Brazil bowing later in the month.

MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE
Monster Trucks (PAR): $4M intl weekend (17 markets); $14.7M intl cume
Arrival (SNY): $3M intl weekend (41 Sony markets); $65M intl cume ($44M for Sony)
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (WB): $3.1M intl weekend (51 markets); $571.7M intl cume
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (SNY): $1.45M intl weekend (Japan only); $31.6M Japan cume
Underworld: Blood Wars (SNY): $1.33M intl weekend (31 markets); $46.7M intl cume
Nocturnal Animals (UNI): $1.1M intl weekend (27 markets); $16.9M intl cume
Trolls (FOX): $471K intl weekend (24 markets); $186.5M intl cume
Manchester By The Sea (SC, UNI): $226K (UK only); $278K (France only); $854K UK cume; $2.2M (France cume)
Silence (SC): $180K (UK only); $2.5M UK cume

LOCAL-LANGUAGE

From Fox International Productions and Fox Star, Indian pic Ok Jaanu grossed $2.8M from 1,452 screens in two markets. The bulk ($2.7M) came from India where Aamir Khan’s Dangal, the top Bollywood movie ever, is still playing and where Vin Diesel-starrer xXx: Return Of Xander Cage opened early (capitalizing on co-star Deepika Padukone’s popularity in the market — we’ll have numbers tomorrow). Shaad Ali directs the romancer Ok Jaanu which features Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapoor in the lead roles. Karan Johar’s Dharma produced.