International Box Office: Tiny Heroes, Huge Box Office
August 18, 2011
The Smurfs continued to expand this past weekend and reached first place with $61.48 million on 11,055 screens in 40 markets for a total of $143.23 million internationally. Its biggest opening came in China where it debuted in first place with $13.4 million on 3,110 screens from Wednesday through Sunday. It also opened in first place in Russia with $4.28 million on 662 screens, but had to settle for second place in the U.K. with $6.16 million on 447 and third place in South Korea with $2.07 million on 455 screens over the weekend and $2.42 million in total. It also held on really well in Brazil, down just 21% to $5.34 million on 559 over the weekend for a total of $15.36 million after two.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes rose to second place with $40.78 million on 5,918 screens in 40 markets for a total of $75.49 million. The film opened in first place in France with $11.53 million on 702 screens. By comparison, Transformers: Dark of the Moon made about $23 million in that market, in total. It also opened in first place in the U.K. with $9.51 million on 488 screens and in Germany with $4.72 million on 679. At this pace, matching its domestic run internationally is easily within reach, which would give the film well over $300 million worldwide. It wasn't hideously expensive to make, so it appears to be on course to break even before it reaches the home market.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 added $30.48 million on 10,757 screens in 62 markets for totals of $868.68 million internationally and $1.23 billion worldwide. The film still has a few more milestones it should reach, including $900 million internationally, $1.3 billion worldwide, and $100 million in Japan. It returned to first place in Japan with $5.33 million on 808 screens over the weekend for a total of $96.70 million after a month of release.
Cars 2 climbed a spot to fourth with $14.97 million on 5,767 screens in 35 markets for totals of $295.74 million internationally and $481.94 million worldwide. By this time next week, it could have $500 million worldwide, which would be enough to be considered a financial hit.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon was right behind with $14.62 million on 6,040 screens in 51 markets for a total of $728.46 million internationally and $1.08 billion worldwide. The film now has $151.1 million in China after adding $4.7 million on 4,971 screens during its fourth weekend of release.
Green Lantern returned to the international chart after more than a month with $13.49 million on 4,061 screens in 25 markets for a total of $60.26 million internationally. It hasn't even matched its production budget worldwide, so it will need some help breaking even any time soon. It did open in first place in Mexico ($4.42 million on 1,592 screens) and in Australia ($3.17 million on 400) but had to settle for third place in France ($3.69 million on 435). The film has yet to open in Brazil, Italy, Japan, and some other markets, but it will need to be a major hit in all of them for the studio to even consider risking another $200 million on a sequel. Even spending half that would be a risk.
Captain America: The First Avenger fell to seventh place with $12.13 million on 4,968 screens in 43 markets for a total of $127.87 internationally and $284.85 million worldwide. This is enough to be considered at least a moderate financial success, plus with openings in France, Germany, Japan, and other markets ahead, there's still a lot of untapped box office potential.
Filed under: International Box Office, The Smurfs, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Green Lantern, Cars 2, Captain America: The First Avenger, Rise of the Planet of the Apes