International Box Office: Unchained Free to Take Top Spot

January 23, 2013

Django Unchained began its international run in first place with $49.70 million on 5,863 screens in 54 markets. It opened in first place in a number of major markets, led by Germany, where it made $9.84 million on 482 screens, while it was nearly as potent in France with $7.54 million on 610 screens. It also earned first place in Italy with $4.60 million on 541 screens and in Spain with $3.40 million on 541. It had to settle for second place in the U.K. ($4.45 million on 445 screens); in Russia ($5.52 million on 736); and in Mexico ($999,000 on 451). It only managed third place in Brazil with $1.27 million, but it was only playing on 187 screens. Overall, this debut was 30% better than Inglourious Basterds' debut in the same markets.

Life of Pi fell to second place with $22.17 million on 7,885 screens in 66 markets for totals of $395.69 million internationally and $494.88 million worldwide, as of Monday. It will hit $500 million this week and it opens in Japan this weekend.

Les Misérables climbed a spot to third place with $19.1 million on 2,876 screens in 29 markets for totals of $152.66 million internationally and $282.7 million worldwide. The film had no major market openings this past weekend, but it is far from done.

The Grandmaster was one of three Chinese hits to reach the top ten, earning fourth place with $14.58 million in 3 markets for a total of $41.87 million after two weeks of release.

Bring Happiness Home was the second Chinese hit in the top ten. It opened with $13.36 million, which was enough for fifth place internationally.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is starting to fall down the chart, but it still managed sixth place with $13.2 million on 6,811 screens in 53 markets over the weekend. It now has $632.2 million internationally and $919.5 million worldwide. This is likely enough money to cover the entire budget of the first two movies, so if it can do as well on the home market, the next two movies will be pure profit for the studio.

Jack Reacher is less than a week away from $100 million after pulling in $10.90 million on 5,295 screens in 56 markets over the weekend, while its running tally sits at $97.96 million. There are not many more markets left for the film, but it has had a successful run, given the size of its budget.

Wreck-It Ralph was next with $8.8 million on 3,627 screens in 60 markets for totals of $175.3 million internationally and $356.1 million worldwide. The film opens in the U.K. next month and Japan in March.

Chinese Zodiac nearly fell out of the top ten, but hung onto ninth place with $8.60 million in 9 markets for a total of $152.71 million after nearly a month of release. Those paying attention to the numbers of Chinese films we've seen in the top ten should not be surprised that China overtook Japan as the biggest international market last year.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters opened in Russia with $8.43 million on 970 screens. That was enough for an easy first place win in that market and tenth place internationally. This is a huge opening for this market, but this market also tends to reward action fantasy films like this, so this is not a good predictor for its opening here.

Skyfall barely hung onto a spot in the top 30 with $2.16 million on 1,516 screens in 31 markets for a total of $740.10 million internationally and $1.041 million worldwide. It is almost in the top ten on the all-time chart, but it will likely fall out of the charts before it gets there.


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Filed under: International Box Office, Life of Pi, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Skyfall, Wreck-It Ralph, Django Unchained, Les Misérables, Jack Reacher