International Box Office: Another Record Falls to Potter
November 24, 2010
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I broke records on the international chart opening with a mind-blowing $192.98 million on 15,506 screens in 53 markets, for a total opening of $204.92 million internationally and $329.94 million worldwide. This is the largest worldwide opening ever, and it is enough to put the film in the top 200 after one weekend of release.
The film's biggest opening came in the U.K., which should surprise no one, but its opening of $29.44 million on 579 screens was a three-day record in that market. It was also a massive hit in Germany with $19.77 million on 904 screens over the weekend and $22.76 million in total, while in Australia it made $15.18 million on 610 screens. In both cases, this was the best in the franchise. Likewise in Russia with $12.72 million on 1134 and in Italy with $10.24 million on 836. In China it pulled in $10.6 million on 3100 screens.
It wasn't able to break records for the franchise in Japan, but still managed a very healthy $11.23 million on 872 screens over the weekend and $14.09 million in total. In Spain it earned $7.98 million on 689 screens, and in Mexico it pulled in $7.53 million on 507, and finally in Brazil it made $7.01 million on 861 screens. While those were not records for the franchise, they are strong enough to suggest $600 million internationally is a very solid goal for the film, while $1 billion worldwide is not out of the question.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I has yet to open in France and South Korea, as well as a handful of smaller markets, and will do so from now till Christmas.
The drop-off from first to second was so steep that it is almost insulting to the rest of the films to talk about them. Due Date managed to remain in second place with $9.36 million on 3283 screens in 38 markets for a total of $61.49 million after three weeks of release. Its best market of the weekend was the U.K. with $1.96 million on 435 screens over the weekend and $12.89 million after three. Meanwhile, it added $1.64 million on 529 screens in its third weekend in Germany for a total of $9.34 million. This is about on par with its run here.
Resident Evil: Afterlife shot into third place with $9.11 million on 3089 screens in 10 markets for a total of $225.58 million. It opened in second place in China with $9 million on 3000 screens, which was dangerously close to The Deathly Hallows: Part I's debut there. Quite frankly, I'm shocked. My only explanation is that the Chinese censors are usually incredibly strict, so perhaps this is something Chinese moviegoers don't get a chance to see a lot of. It's the novelty.
Saw VII 3D added $7.95 million on 1999 screens in 36 markets for a total of $59.67 million internationally. This is more than it made domestically, and the fourth best in the franchise's history. It performed extremely well in Italy with $2.71 million on 275 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $3.40 million, but it bombed in South Korea with just $670,000 on 169 screens over the weekend and $888,000 in total. With an opening in Germany this weekend, it could jump into second place for the franchise by this time next weekend.
Unstoppable fell from first to fifth with $7.66 million on 4003 screens in 41 markets for a total of $31.64 million after two weeks of release. No new major markets obviously hurt the film's week-to-week performance, but a 59% decline is still extreme.
On the other hand, Red climbed 21% to $7.45 million on 2663 screens in 39 markets for a total of $63.89 million after six weeks of release. Not having to deal with Harry Potter when it opened in France clearly helped, as it debuted with $2.80 million on 385 screens, but that was still only enough for second place there.
Filed under: International Box Office, Due Date, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I, Unstoppable, Saw 3D, Red