International Box Office: Ghost Rider Burns the Competition
February 29, 2012
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance rose to first place with $21.44 million on 4,889 screens in 28 markets for a two-week total of $45.74 million. This week it opened in a trio of major markets, starting with Russia where it debuted in first place with $8.18 million on 913 screens. By comparison, Ghost Rider made $7.77 million in total in that market, so this is a great start. On the other hand, it had to settle for second place in Germany with $2.32 million on 428, which is roughly on par with its predecessor's opening. But it only managed third place in Spain with $1.16 million on 439. By comparison, the film made $3.12 million during its opening there. Mixed results make it difficult to predict the film's final box office number, but I think it is safe to say there won't be a Ghost Rider 3 any time soon.
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island slipped to second place with $21.1 million on 7,430 screens in 47 markets for a total of $161.8 million. This is already more than its predecessor made in total. It's on pace to reach $100 million domestically and it is on pace to reach $200 million internationally. There will be a third film in the franchise given these results. The film debuted in first place in Italy with $2.22 million on 437 screens, which is weaker than the original's opening, but the overall numbers are still very positive.
Safe House will cross $100 million domestically today, but it isn't doing as well internationally. It earned third place with $13.00 million on 2,613 screen in 45 markets for a total of $35.48 million after three weeks of release. This week it debuted in the U.K. in third place with $3.40 million on 424 screens. It also earned third place in Germany, but with just $1.81 million on 360. In France, it could place no higher than fourth with $2.14 million on 309.
This Means War remained in fourth place with a nearly identical result of $11.21 million, although it expand significantly and was playing on 2,932 screens in 41 markets. Its total is now $25.36 million. However, while the film expanded, it was in smaller markets. In fact, its biggest opening came in The Netherlands where it earned first place with $649,000 on 101 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $764,000. Holdovers remained dominant with the film down just 31% in Russia earning $3.14 million on 1,029 screens over the weekend for a total of $10.48 million after two. It was down just 30% in Australia with $1.47 million on 232 screens over the weekend for a total of $5.26 million, also after two.
Intouchables returned to the chart in fifth place with $8.59 million on 1,755 screens in 7 markets for an international total of $243.02 million after about four months of release. It debuted in Italy scoring second place with $2.01 million on 324 screens. It remained in first place in Germany with $4.65 million on 790 screens over the weekend for a total of $53.02 million after nearly two months of release. Meanwhile in France, it added $475,000 on 419 screens for a total of $157.10 million. The film is slowly catching up to Avatar's total of $158.26 million, but it is still behind Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis, which made nearly $200 million in France. On the other hand, this film is finding a much wider audience outside its native market.
Hugo was right behind with $8.32 million on 2,378 screens in 31 markets for a total of $69.38 million. The film opened in first place in Spain with $2.33 million on 377 screens. Meanwhile, it rose to second place in Brazil with $1.51 million on 272 screens over the weekend for a total of $4.37 million after two.
As expected, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3D reached $1 billion worldwide since last week. It added $5.10 million on 2,990 screens in 59 markets for a total of $46.20 million internationally and $86.65 million worldwide, just during its re-release. In total, it has $539.40 million internationally and $1.01 billion worldwide. It is about $13 million behind Alice in Wonderland,but it should get there shortly.
Filed under: International Box Office, Star Wars Ep. I: The Phantom Menace, Hugo, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Safe House, This Means War, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Les Intouchables