$100 Million Opening for Van Helsing

May 11, 2004

In addition to the $51.7 million Van Helsing earned at the domestic box office, the monster movie made $55.3 million on 5,254 screens in 41 markets internationally. Not only was that easily the largest box office this weekend, but it was the best we've seen this year. Some highlights were the $9.9 million in the U.K. and $7 million in Germany. And while a $107 million opening weekend seems spectacular, this is a very expensive film to get to theatres. Combine the production budget, domestic P&A budgets, translations / dubbing / subtitles, etc. and the final cost is nearing $250 million. A strong home market will be needed before Universal sees a profit.

Kill Bill: Volume 2 tumbled again dropping nearly 50% to just $5.4 million. It's international total is now at $49 million, but dropping this fast means Volume 2 won't match Volume 1's box office, but since the $55 million production budget was for both films, this has already made a profit.

Also dropping one place was 50 First Dates with $4.8 million. That's enough to push its international total to $53.4 million, most of which came from English speaking regions.

Secret Window's worldwide box office isn't as strong as the studio hoped. But is still managed another place on the international charts with $3.3 million.

Rounding out the top five this week was Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed with just $2.8 million.


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Source: Variety

Filed under: International Box Office, 50 First Dates, Van Helsing, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, Kill Bill: Volume 1, Kill Bill: Volume 2, Secret Window