International Box Office: Pacific Heats Up while Smurfs Feel a Little Blue
August 8, 2013
It has been a while since we've done an international top ten. The reason for this is simple, a while ago, some studios stopped publishing final numbers and would only release studio estimates. Then some of them just stopped altogether. It turns out to gather enough information to do a international top ten is really difficult. After weeks of research, we have tracked down enough different sources that we think this is possible and we are starting up again. However, there may be some gaps in the numbers, especially screen count and theater counts.
Pacific Rim earned first place over the weekend with $53.0 million in 58 markets for a total of $200.4 million internationally and $293.3 million worldwide. It has made more internationally than it cost to make, but it will still need a lot of help to break even. The film's biggest market over the weekend was China, where it debuted in first place with $45 million. Unfortunately for the film, while studios take about 60% of the box office numbers in the United States (it varies per film) they only get about 20% of the box office in China. Or to be more accurate, they will only get about 20% of the box office, once the sales tax dispute is settled. Right now, they are getting nothing.
The Smurfs 2 opened in second place with $49.54 million on 11,812 screens in 43 markets for a total worldwide opening of $76.65 million. Before the weekend, the studio was predicting a $100 million worldwide debut, so this is a troubling start. Worse still, the third installment in the franchise already has a release date. If this film bombs, Sony might have to cancel that film, which would be a costly mistake. As for individual markets, its biggest was Russia, where it earned first place with $5.03 million on 1300 screens, which is close to $1 million more than its predecessor made during its opening weekend in that market. On the other hand, while the film opened in first place in the U.K., it made $4.92 million on 510 screens, which is more than $1 million off the first film's pace. Plus, this figure includes more than $2 million in previews. The film did very well in Latin America, including a first place $4.43 million opening in Brazil and in Mexico with $4.08 million. On the other hand, it had to settle for second place in Germany with $3,140,621 on 1,046 screens and just fourth place in South Korea with $1.79 million on 512 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $2.62 million.
The Wolverine was in third place with $37.4 million on 12,865 screens in 66 markets for totals of $160.1 million internationally and $254.7 million worldwide. It had no major market openings this past weekend, but it did remain in top spot in Australia with $2.91 million on 581 screens over the weekend for a total of $9.85 million after two. The film was pushed into third place in Russia with $3.75 million on 2,044 screens. On the other hand, it has earned $18.18 million after just two weeks in that market, making it the most lucrative market so far.
Snowpiercer opened in first place in South Korea and fourth place overall with $14.84 million on 1,127 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $21.21 million.
Despicable Me 2 was right behind with $13.8 million on 6,210 screens in 52 markets for a total of $386.54 million internationally. Its worldwide total has reached $713.0 million, which is almost $200 million more than its predecessor.
Now You See Me added $13.1 million from 61 markets to its international total, which now sits at $117.6 million. This is just ahead of its domestic total, and it was a bigger than expected hit stateside.
Red 2 missed expectations domestically with $45.06 million. While it will very likely top that number internationally it is still not a major hit. This week it made $11.9 million from 30 markets for a still early international total of $33.4 million.
On the other hand, The Conjuring was a surprise hit domestically, so its international numbers are far less important, as it has already broken even. It is too early to tell if it will match its domestic numbers, but with $11.8 million in 13 markets this weekend for an early total of $28.8 million, it is off to a good start. The film debuted in second place in the U.K. with $3.30 million on 371 screens, which is about as strong as its start here. In Russia it added $1.92 million on 604 screens for a two-week total of $6.90 million. In Australia it is showing long legs down just 19% to $1.22 million over the weekend for a total of $5.32 million after three.
Monsters University was right behind with $11.4 million in 52 markets for totals of $354.9 million internationally and $613.5 million worldwide. This is more than the first film, but not by a huge amount and certainly not more than inflation.
Fast & Furious 6 rounded out the top ten with $9.6 million on 3,577 screens in 26 markets for an international total of $535.21 million. Worldwide the movie has pulled in $773.2 million, which is the best in the franchise. However, the production budgets are also getting really high, so the film needed to break franchise records just to break even.
Filed under: International Box Office, Monsters University, The Wolverine, Despicable Me 2, Fast and Furious 6, Pacific Rim, The Smurfs 2, RED 2, Now You See Me, The Conjuring, Fast and the Furious, The Smurfs