The Meg Devours $97M Overseas/$141M Global Opening; Fallout Flies Past $400M WW – International Box Office
Warner Bros/Shutterstock
Refresh for latest…: Warner Bros/Gravity Pictures prehistoric shark took a whale of a bite out of the box office in its opening this session as it surprised both at home and abroad. With $96.8M across 42 offshore markets, The Meg gobbled up a global launch of $141.3M.
Out of the total international box office debut, China turnstiles gave the co-production $50.3M. Thats a strong start in a competitive landscape with the Sunday estimate ($17.5M/RMB 120M) increasing on the Friday and Saturday. This bodes well for the midweeks — and it helps that one of the local pictures above it is dropping fast.
The Meg played on 12,650 screens in China and topped nearly all comps including Skyscraper, San Andreas and the Jason Statham-led The Mechanic: Resurrection (by 109%). Statham is a big draw in the Middle Kingdom and supported the movie on two recent trips there.
The film falls under the Flagship Entertainment joint venture formed by Warner Bros, China Media Capital and TVB in 2015. Flagships Gravity is releasing in the PROC where WB gets a bigger chunk of the box office because of the co-pro status (43% + ancillary vs 25%-27% full-stop).
This is the first picture to surface from the JV pact to develop and produce Chinese-language titles, including global tentpoles, for worldwide distribution. The Meg of course is in English, but incorporates plenty of Chinese elements.
Contrary to recent China co-productions which have struggled outside the Middle Kingdom, The Megs formula of summer fun, the universality of shark tales and a marketing campaign that promised a good time on a movie that does not take itself too seriously delivered on a global level. (As Anthony has pointed out, profitability is still to be assessed on the expensive proposition.)
The Jon Turtletaub-directed popcorn flick was No. 1 in 28 of its opening markets. In Europe, its comping well ahead of titles like Rampage, Geostorm, London Has Fallen and Into The Storm. Likewise in Asia (outside China) its tops in nearly all hubs while in Latin America it is the No. 1 movie everywhere its been released.
IMAX splashed in with $13.6M on 1,074 screens in 46 markets. In China, the shark hooked $7M on 520.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout meanwhile, dipped just 47% in holdover markets overseas with a cume that is now $275.6M offshore for $438M global. The international number is 19% ahead of Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. The Meg took a little nibble out of the Tom Cruise smash in overlap markets, but its still dominating in majors like France, Germany, Australia and Japan where the shark has not yet surfaced.
Speaking of Japan, moviegoers are still doing the dino dance there as Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom has climbed to $58.2M, up 8% in its 5th frame.
Elsewhere, Incredibles 2 is thisclose to $500M international and has overtaken Toy Story 3 to become the biggest-ever Pixar release worldwide.
Breakdowns on the films above and more are being updated below.
NEW
THE MEG
Directed by Jon Turtletaub, Warner Bros/Gravity Pictures sci-fi thriller about a prehistoric 75-foot-long predator, the Megalodon, hooked a $96.8M start at the international box office. With its domestic over-performance, the movie swam to $141.3M in the worldwide launch.
Jason Statham stars in the movie that knows its a summer popcorn flick and which benefits from a China co-production under WBs Flagship Entertainment joint venture. China is clearly a key play here (the studio gets a higher return from Middle Kingdom turnstiles as a co-pro) and a $50.3M start is very solid in a competitive marketplace. The Meg jumped up to No. 2 on Sunday there as local pic iPartment declined amid controversy and confusion.
The shark has just a 6.1 on Douban in China, but that didnt hurt it this weekend with Statham a big draw locally and as Sundays number came in higher than the Friday and Saturday. Forward momentum will be something to watch as yet another local title bobs up on Friday (Jingle Mas Europe Raiders) along with the arrival of Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.
Its early days, and profitability is to be assessed, but its interesting that recent China co-productions like The Great Wall and Warcraft did big business in the Middle Kingdom yet struggled elsewhere. There are Chinese elements in this movie, but at first blush, it certainly appears to have wider global appeal. It comes at a time when talks between the USTR (on behalf of the MPAA) and Chinas gatekeepers are at a stalemate due to Donald Trumps trade war. While some have expressed fears that this could eventually impact Hollywood (which would like to see more favorable terms for movies in China), the Middle Kingdom has recently granted several extensions to studio movies and is letting more in earlier this summer than last. Part of that is believed to be a means to keep box office growth on the fast-track overall, but its also seen as a sign the PROC powers that be recognize the importance of the relationship between the two markets.
Looking elsewhere, The Meg was No. 1 in 28 markets, No. 1 across Europe and Latin America and No. 1 in nearly all Asian hubs outside China. Its performing very well against comps like Rampage, Geostorm, London Has Fallen, Into The Storm, White House Down, Skyscraper and San Andreas in most plays.
China was the top opening, followed by Mexico at No. 1 with 63% of the Top 5 films. The gross there was $6.2M from 2,739 screens and is the biggest 2018 opening weekend for a WB film.
In Russia, the shark bit into 70% of the Top 5, generating $5M from 2,622 screens and topping comps (in both Russia and Mexico, The Meg opened higher than Fallouts recent debut).
Mamma Mia 2 shimmied out of the UK No. 1 slot for the first time since its release as The Meg swam in to replace it with $4.4M on approximately 750 screens. Spain was also a No. 1 bow with $2.4M from 307, surpassing Rampage by 87% and San Andreas by 115%.
In the South East Asian hubs, Malaysia led with $2.3M on 500 and Indonesia reeled in $2.3M from 611 — notably besting Kong: Skull Island by 34%.
Brazil made $2.1M from 882 and the UAE took a fantastic $2M from 130 screens.
Germany kept Tom Cruise in control at No. 1 with The Meg at No. 2 on $1.9M from 557. At No. 1 in Italy, The Meg made $1.7M from 363.
There are still more markets to come with Korea and Australia pushing the boat out this weekend, followed by France on August 22 and Japan on September 7.
BLACKKKLANSMAN
Universal released Focus Cannes Grand Prize winner — and the latest Spike Lee Joint — in just three markets this weekend. In Finland, Israel and Central America the Blumhouse/Legendary title made $400K. Notable in there is the launch in Finland which is the home country of actor Jasper Pääkkönen. It came in No. 1 with $277K at 76 sites. Thats ahead of new opener Mission: Impossible and sets it tracking ahead of all comps including Straight Outta Compton and Get Out.
BlacKkKlansman follows a black detective named Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan, even becoming phone pals with the notorious David Duke (Topher Grace) in order to thwart a suspected attack. Adam Driver plays the detective who subs for Stallworth in his face-to-face meetings with the KKK.
Domestically, the movies release was timed to the one-year anniversary of the Charlottesville, VA riots. Overseas, it is rolling out over the next few months.
HOLDOVERS/EXPANSIONS
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT
Zooming past $400M global, Paramount/Skydances summer action hit made $38.4M in 59 offshore markets this weekend. That takes the overseas total to $275.6M for $438M worldwide. In IMAX, the movie has tallied $31M so far.
Internationally, Fallout fell just 47% and continues to track ahead of Rogue Nation (+19%) in like-for-likes. China is still to release the movie, on August 31.
New this session was Poland at No. 1 with $615K from 144 locations. The result is 35% above Rogue Nation.
Slow-burn Japan, a key consumer of the Mission movies, held No. 1 with a 24% drop and a cume of $18.7M. Frances 2nd frame dipped 44% for a $14.4M cume to date, and Germany also held the No. 1 slot on a slight 12% drop and an $8M total so far. Australias sophomore session lifted the total to $8.9M as the movie maintained No. 1 and the Netherlands second outing saw a mere 2% slide for $3.9M through Sunday.
In 3rd weekend holds, Korea has cumed $46.4M to lead all play; the UK is now at $22.4M; Taiwan has $11.9M; Mexico rose to $10.8M; Brazils tally is $9.6M; and the UAE has $6.4M. The total Middle East region has grossed $13.9M.
MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN
Universals tuner sequel trouped to another $21.5M in the frame, taking the offshore total to $177M and global to $280.8M. There were six new openings this session inlcuidng Korea, Singapore and Peru.
At 750 locations, Korea had a solid debut in 3rd place behind local juggernaut Along With The Gods 2 and another local title. With $6.6M, the launch is tracking above comps — opening day was 272% bigger than the original film and generated strong word of mouth.
The UK was the top holdover at -22% and lifting the cume to a great $62.5M after four weekends to track 41% bigger than the first movie at the same stage.
Elsewhere, Germany was down 8% ($14.1M cume), Australia dipped 34% ($14M cume), the Netherlands shot up 18% ($5.7M cume)
Germany and Australia are just slightly trailing the first movie while France is down 32% at $4.4M so far. Brazil (+174%), Norway (+101%) and the Netherlands (+70%) are well above.
Still to come are Russia, Hong Kong, Mexico, Japan and Italy.
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: SUMMER VACATION
Sonys threequel sailed to another $17.1M in 58 ports for the session. The international cume is now $231.4M for a global monster mash of $378.3M. In a competitive Korea, HT3 debuted to $3.4M from 500 screens.
Holdover markets were down just 27% including only slight dips in France (-17%), the UK (-4%) and Germany (-11%).
The Top 5 markets to date are Mexico ($25.5M), Brazil ($18M), Russia ($17.7M), the UK ($14.4M) and Australia ($13.5M).
Next weekend adds China.
INCREDIBLES 2
In the 9th offshore weekend, Disney/Pixars Incredibles 2 is kissing $500M internationally. The frame added $14.6M in 34 material markets for $498.6M to date. The global total has risen to $1,088.5M making the superhero sequel Pixars biggest release ever worldwide. Also notable, in the UK, Incredibles 2 has passed Toy Story 2 to become the 2nd highest grossing Disney/Pixar animated movie of all time.
Holds are strong, including in Japan where the Parr family jumped up 30% for $19.3M so far.
The UK is the top overseas hub at $58.4M, overtaking China which is now No. 2 with $53.6M, followed by Mexico ($37.2M), Brazil ($36M) and France ($35.5M). Still to come are Italy and Germany next month.
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP
No new markets opened on the Disney/Marvel sequel this session. In 42, Paul Rudds size-shifter tucked another $6.5M into the suit for an overseas running cume of $245.4M and $448.9M worldwide. Next weekend adds Italy with China on deck for August 24 and Japan August 31.
The Top 5 are currently Korea ($42.4M), Mexico ($14.9M), Australia ($14.3M), the UK ($13.4M) and Russia ($12.9M).
JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM
In 60 markets Universals dinosaurs drummed up another $5.1M, led by Japan which is up 8% in the 5th frame for a $58.2M total so far. Overall, the international cume is now $866.8M with $1,276.4M globally.
Germany (-18%) and France (-23%) saw good holds with the German cume at $29.5M after 10 frames and the French total at $30.6M, also after 10.
MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE
The Spy Who Dumped Me (LG): $4.9M intl weekend (52 markets); $7.3M intl come
The Darkest Minds (FOX): $4.8M intl weekend (48 markets); $10.9M intl cume
Disneys Christopher Robin (DIS): $3.8M intl weekend (25 markets), $12.1M intl cume
Oceans 8 (WB): $3.7M intl weekend (43 markets including $2.9M in Japan); $141.1M intl cume
The First Purge (UNI): $2.9M intl weekend (35 markets); $58.7M intl cume
Skyscraper (UNI): $2.6M intl weekend (65 markets); $130.3M intl cume (not including China)
The Equalizer 2 (SNY): $2.1M intl weekend (16 markets); $10.2M intl cume
Teen Titans! Go To The Movies (WB): $1.3M intl weekend (17 markets); $4.5M intl cume
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