International Box Office: Expendables Explode on International Scene
August 25, 2010
Powered by openings in a trio of major markets, The Expendables climbed into top spot with $35.49 million on 4501 screens in 30 markets for a still early international total of $60.30 million. At this point, reaching $100 million internationally and $200 million worldwide is practically a given. The film's best opening of the weekend came from the U.K. where it debuted in the top spot with $6.08 million on 453 screens, while it was also triumphant in France with $4.75 million on 445 screens. On the other hand, it had to settle for fifth place in South Korea with $1.25 million on 298 screens over the weekend and $1.52 million in total. Next up for the film is Germany this weekend, while it opens in Italy next month and in Japan in October.
Inception was pushed into second place with $21.67 million on 6293 screens in 61 markets for a total of $359.99 million internationally and $622.02 million worldwide. It became just the 55th film to reach $600 million worldwide and it has likely entered the top 50 all time by today. It has yet to open in China and Italy and will get to $400 million internationally and $700 million worldwide when it does.
The Last Airbender climbed into third place with $20.20 million on 3746 screens in 40 markets for a total of $94.92 million internationally and $225.00 million worldwide. It opened in first place in a trio of major markets, led by Germany where it made $5.39 million on 444 screens over the weekend and $6.55 million in total. South Korea was also a powerhouse market pulling $4.50 million on 474 million over the weekend and $4.75 million in total. Brazil was the third number one market earning $2.54 million on 251 screens. If it can hold well in these markets next weekend, matching its total budget of $280 million on the international scene will become a lot more likely, while it has openings in China, Italy, and Australia ahead of it. If it can make $300 million worldwide and does well on the home market, we could see a sequel coming out sooner rather than later.
Salt rose to fourth place with $17.74 million on 4378 screens in 58 markets for a total of $106.21 million internationally and $216.10 million worldwide. This is a movie with an ending that practically screamed sequel, and with its performance so far, it will very likely get one. It opened in first place in Australia with $3.62 million on 365 screens, while it also led the way in Spain with $2.38 million on 446 screens. On the other hand, it had to settle for second place in the U.K. ($3.37 million on 346 screens) and in Germany ($2.02 million on 484).
Toy Story 3 is shedding screens and markets, but it still managed a spot in the top five with 12.29 million on 5183 screens in 40 markets. It now has $581.25 million internationally and $985.05 million worldwide and even if it didn't have any more major market openings, it would still reach $1 billion, perhaps as early as this time next month. With debuts in Scandinavia this weekend, it could overtake Alice in Wonderland before all is said and done.
Step Up 3D slipped a spot to sixth, but still added $11.16 million on 2462 screens in 23 markets for a total of $53.56 million internationally. This is more than the movie will finish with domestically, and it is more than the first film made internationally. It opened in fourth place in France with $2.08 million on 293 screens, which is solid, but not spectacular. On the other hand, it remained in second place in Russia with $2.52 million on 639 screens over the weekend and $8.78 million in total. If it did this well everywhere, it would become the biggest hit in the franchise.
Shrek Forever After returned with $10.66 million on 3843 screens in 42 markets for a total of $455.54 million internationally and $693.28 million worldwide. The film opened in Greece and China, making $278,000 in the former and an undisclosed amount in the latter. China is now the second largest economy in the world (it just overtook Japan) but while its importance to the international box office is growing, Getting timely information on box office numbers from the market is frustrating.
The Karate Kid climbed a spot to eighth with $10.46 million on 3119 screens in 38 markets for a total of $124.60 million internationally and $300.12 million worldwide. It opened in second place in France with $3.23 million on 530 screens, while it managed third place in Russia with $2.07 million on 484 screens.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice fell to ninth place with $10.35 million on 3586 screens in 38 markets for a total of $91.73 million. It should get to $100 million internationally by this time next week, and while that won't be enough for the film to make a profit any time soon, it might be enough to save someone's job. Its only major market opening was in Italy where it earned first place with $2.12 million on 443 screens over the weekend for a total opening on $3.48 million. On the other hand, it fell from first to fifth in France down 67% to $1.90 million on 546 screens over the weekend for a total of $7.62 million after two.
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore remained in tenth place with $7.42 million on 4644 screens in 45 markets for a total of $35.11 million. In Spain it opened in sixth place with a mere $722,000 on 336 screens. It hasn't been able to find an audience internationally, just like it struggled domestically.
Grown Ups added $4.92 million on 2113 screens in 40 markets for a total of $59.41 million internationally and $218.36 million worldwide. It is now in a virtual tie with Bedtime Stories to be Adam Sandler's third biggest hit of all time.
Filed under: International Box Office, Inception, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, The Last Airbender, Salt, The Expendables, Shrek Forever After, The Karate Kid, Grown Ups, Toy Story 3, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, Step Up 3D