International Box Office: Dark Phoenix is Brighter Internationally

June 13, 2019

Dark Phoenix

Dark Phoenix may have struggled domestically, but it is doing a lot better internationally. The film opened with $107.0 million in 53 markets with Japan being the lone major market it didn’t debut in. China was the film’s biggest single market, representing $44.44 million of its total haul, including $31.85 million over the weekend. The film cracked $5 million in South Korea with a total opening of $5.58 million on 868 screens, including $2.82 million over the weekend. It had nearly identical results in the U.K. ($4.78 million in 615 theaters) and Mexico ($4.65 million). Unfortunately, for all of the film’s success on the international stage, the film is only looking to save face, as it cost $200 million to make and there’s nearly no chance it will recoup that in a timely fashion.

Aladdin remained in second place with $67.6 million in 55 markets over the weekend for totals of $372.5 million internationally and $605.1 million worldwide. The film stormed into Japan with $12.9 million, making it the fastest opening western film of the year so far. Furthermore, it fell only 30% in holdover markets, meaning it is on pace to top $700 million worldwide by as early as this time next week and is also on pace to finish with $800 million.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters was next with $47.9 million on 25,525 screens in 78 international markets for totals of $216.0 million internationally and $294.5 million worldwide. Over half of the film’s international haul has come from China, as it pulled in $23.8 million on 10,866 screens for a total of $111.7 million so far. Normally being so dependent on China is a bad thing, as Hollywood studios only get to keep about 25% of the box office there, compared to 40% in most international markets and over 50% domestically. However, since this film is a Chinese co-production, the studio gets a full 40% or more share of the box office. I still don’t think the film will break even any time soon, but it could do well enough that the franchise continues focusing on the Asian market.

Up next were two Chinese films, My Best Summer and Chasing the Dragon II. They were so close that they actually change places depending on if you are talking about the three-day weekend or their full openings. My Best Summer wins according to the first criteria at $21.58 million to $20.38 million, but their places reverse if you look at the two films full openings of $25.28 million and $28.30 million respectively.

Filed under: International Box Office, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Dark Phoenix, Aladdin, Zhui Long 2: Zhui Ji Da Fu Hao, Wo Wei Xiong Di Kuang, MonsterVerse