International Box Office: Transformers Tops, Pirates Earns its Billion

July 6, 2011

Transformers: Dark of the Moon earned top spot on the international chart, which came as no surprise. However, it did so in impressive fashion with $154.93 million on 11,565 screens in 58 markets over the weekend for a total opening of $219.81 million. This is the best international debut for Paramount topping the previous champion, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Its biggest opening came in South Korea where it scored $21.82 million on 1,442 screens over the weekend for a total opening of 31.09 million. It was also tops in Russia with $16.95 million on 1,385 screens over the weekend and $21.97 million in total. It earned $17.30 million on 521 screens in the U.K. and $16.18 million on 595 in Australia, including midweek numbers. It also cracked $10 million in Germany with $15.29 million on 617, including midweek numbers, and in Mexico with $10.81 million on 2,097 screens.

Other important markets for Transformers: Dark of the Moon this weekend included France where it just missed the $10 million mark with $9.85 million on 760 screens. Brazil was next with $5.79 million on 660 screens, including a little from before the weekend. Italy earned $3.49 million on 702 screens over the weekend and $5.71 million in total. Finally, Spain debuted with $3.65 million on 818 screens over the weekend and $4.99 million in total. Worldwide the film has crossed the $400 million line, if you include July 4th, and after it opens in Japan and China, it has a shot at becoming the biggest hit in the franchise.

Cars 2 was in a distant second place with $22.24 million on 5,513 screens in 25 markets for a total of $86.09 million. It fell 43% from its opening, but it didn't have any new openings, plus the competition was intense. Its best single market was Mexico where it added $4.56 million on 1,550 screens over the weekend to its running tally, which now sits at $16.47 million. In comparison, the original Cars made $13 million in that market in total. Russia contributed $3.11 million on 950 screens over the weekend for a total of $15.54 million after two. It made $3.07 million on 502 screens over the weekend in Australia, lifting its total to $9.97 million after just two weeks of release there. Brazil brought in $2.55 million on 658 screens for the week for a total of $12.18 million after two. This puts the film on pace to match Kung Fu Panda 2 in that market, more or less. In Italy, it made $2.02 million on 733 screens over the weekend for a total of $10.09 million after two. It might not match the original in this market, as the earlier film made just over $16 million in total; however, that appears to be an exception, as the film is dominating its predecessor in most other markets.

Kung Fu Panda 2 fell to third place with $20.13 million on 9,297 screens in 52 markets lifting its total to $377.57 million internationally and $534.43 million worldwide. It was down just 12% in France with $2.80 million on 760 screens for a total of $14.39 million after three weeks of release. It wasn't able to hold on quite as well in Australia and Germany and the film was down 44% in both markets. It the former it made $2.57 million on 458 screens over the weekend for a total of $9.25 million after two, while in the latter it earned $2.22 million on 703 screens for a total of $15.37 million after three. Next up for the film are Japan and Italy, but it doesn't open in those markets till late August and by the time it does, it will have topped $400 million internationally and should be close to $600 million worldwide.

The Hangover 2 is closing in on $300 million at the international box office. This past weekend it made $9.55 million on 3,998 screens in 57 markets for a total of $297.85 million internationally and $546.09 million worldwide.

Beginning Of The Great Revival rose to fifth place with $8.37 million on 1,232 screens in 4 markets for a total of $48.60 million after just three weeks of release. This is quite impressive for a Chinese film, but there's little hope that it will be a big hit in other markets, as it is too nationalistic for crossover appeal.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides reached $1 billion over the weekend with $8.04 million on 4,076 screens in 45 markets for a total of $775.02 million internationally and $1.01 billion worldwide. The film also crossed $100 million in Japan with $2.46 million on 779 screens over the weekend and a total of $100.81 million after seven weeks of release.


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Filed under: International Box Office, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, The Hangover Part II, Kung Fu Panda 2, Cars 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides