Len Klady analyses the second quarter at the global box office, with theatrical up 11% driven by 3D but admissions up less than 3% over 2009, esentially flat overseas.

Global box office generated $7.69 billion for the second quarter of 2010 propelled by the rage for 3D movies. Six of the top 10 grossers for the period were stereoscopic films including Clash of the Titans and Alice in Wonderland as well as animated fare such as Shrek Forever After and Toy Story 3.

Overall worldwide theatrical was up 11% from the same period of 2009 with the international arena contributing $4.07 billion and domestic the remaining $3.62 billion. However, as a result of the premium prices for 3D and large format versions of popular films, admissions rose by less than 3%.

While the box-office boost was generally upbeat, there were several disturbing caveats particularly in the international arena. Whereas the domestic marketplace expanded by 25% year-to-year, international’s 7% boost translated into essentially flat ticket sales. The foreign disquiet boils down to fewer films monopolizing ticket sales and among those few are a sparse number of foreign-language productions (invariably a key factor in marketplace growth).

With the exception of StreetDance 3D, the major international box office hits of the period experienced little traction outside their country of origin. As with the domestic sector, more and more maturing markets are feeling the pinch of screen availability and that situation will only intensify through the summer season. The exception continues to be films from India —particularly but not exclusively Bollywood film in Hindi — that have established dedicated screens for that nation’s Diaspora. An unprecedented four Indian productions popped up among the top 20 grossing films during Q2 and box office in the country spiked by 46%.

China, Russia and Mexico also had significant revenue upturns. But virtually all of Europe as well as Japan, South Korea and Turkey saw both revenues and admissions erode sharply. Post Q2 Chinese cinemas continue to boom with the country’s first 3D movie Aftershock becoming the all-time highest grossing local production after three weeks in release.

The American majors continued to dominate worldwide screens with studio movies accounting for 61% of second quarter theatrical revenues. The companies also had a year-to-year boost of 17%.

 

Top-Grossing Films at Global Box Office, April 1-June 30, 2010  
Clash of the TitansWB324,189,595
Iron Man 2Par Intl312,556,587
Alice in WonderlandBVI300,417,293
Prince of Persia: The Sands of TimesBVI224,365,266
How to Train Your DragonPar Intl202,214,112
Robin HoodUIP200,489,766
Sex and the City 2WB183,705,630
AvatarFox119,765,593
Toy Story 3BVI95,626,528
Shrek Forever After (US)Par Intl94,548,025
Date NightFox53,470,658
The A-TeamFox50,764,392
Ip Man 2Mandarin50,741,624
Nanny McPhee and the Big BangUIP49,490,385
Kick-AssUPI/Lions Gate49,052,582
The Bounty HunterSony48,678,428
A Nightmare on Elm StreetWB44,690,779
StreetDanceProtagonist42,287,750
Nodame Cantabile IIToho40,445,047
Shutter IslandPar Intl38,063,687

 

Top Grossing Foreign-Language Films, April 1-June 30, 2010  
Ip Man 2Mandarin50,741,624
Nodame Cantabile IIToho40,445,047
Camping 2Pathe35,350,497
Detective Conan 2010Toho34,349,736
ConfessionsToho28,389,706
RaajneetiUTV26,491,800
L’ArnacoeurKinology20,301,350
Trick: Psychic Battle RoyaleToho20,262,882
HousefulEros18,943,053
Chico XavierSony17,155,788
The ServantCJ Entertainment16,837,431
Aventures Extraordinaires d’Adele Blanc-SecEuropa15,213,684
RaavanReliance14,575,649
KitesReliance13,964,621
The HousemaidSidus13,912,956
Crayon Shinchan 2010Toho13,563,921
Tout ce qui brillePathe12,411,515
71 - Into the FireFine Cut12,365,509
Future X-CopsArclight11,639,157
GintamaSunrise11,151,030

 

Top Grossers by Nationality, April 1-June 30, 2010  
The Secret In Their Eyes (El Secreto de sus Ojos)Argentina7,963,139
The Kings of Mykonos: Wog Boys 2Australia5,717,541
Chico XavierBrazil17,155,788
FatalCanada5,800,789
Ip Man 2China50,741,624
Zeny v pokuseniCzech Rep3,433,601
ArmadilloDenmark1,167,820
Camping 2France35,350,497
Vincent Will MeerGermany5,685,730
I Love KardistaGreece4,320,582
De Gelukkige HuisvrouwHolland4,747,284
Future X-CopsHong Kong11,639,157
RaajneetiIndia26,491,800
La Vita E’una Cosa MeravigliosaItaly6,773,635
Nodame Cantabile IIJapan40,445,047
The ServantKorea16,837,431
AbelMexico2,305,028
BoyNew Zealand6,360,260
Here Comes the BridePhilippines2,751,121
Disco OrmePoland2,797,350
Burnt by the Sun 2Russia8,108,681
Schuster ShabalalaSouth Africa3,585,769
Que se Mueran los FeosSpain8,070,576
Man Som Hatar KvinnorSweden7,353,135
Saranae SiblorThailand2,085,213
Cok Filim Hareketler BunlarTurkey4,380,006
Nanny McPhee and the Big BangUK49,490,385

 

International Market Share (Second Quarter 2010)  
Rights Holder Gross* (USD in millions)Market Share
    
Paramount International 679.916.70%
Buena Vista International 678.616.70%
Warner Bros. 605.614.90%
Fox 312.67.70%
Universal Pictures International 306.37.50%
Toho 164.64.00%
Sony Pictures International 145.83.60%
Lions Gate 102.62.50%
Summit 92.52.30%
Pathe 57.11.40%
Mandarin 53.11.30%
Europa 48.61.20%
Protagonist 43.11.10%
Misc Indian (Hindi, Tamil, Telegu, etc) 134.73.30%
Misc. American Independents 111.72.70%
Misc. French 91.22.20%
Misc. Other Korean 78.31.90%
Misc. English-language 75.11.80%
Misc. Other Japanese 73.71.80%
Misc. Italian 38.20.90%
Misc. Chinese 34.70.80%
Misc. Eastern Europe (Russia, Poland, Hungary, etc)28.80.70%
Misc. Scandanavian 24.10.60%
Misc. German language 18.60.50%
Other (Hispanic, Mid-East, Asian, Turkish, etc)76.81.90%
  4076.3100.00%

 

Domestic Market Share (March 1 - June 30, 2010)  
    
    
Paramount 85823.70%
Buena Vista   766.521.20%
Warner Bros. 429.611.90%
Fox 384.810.60%
Sony 320.98.80%
Universal 223.66.20%
Summit 200.25.50%
Lionsgate 155.94.30%
Overture 50.31.40%
Fox Searchlight 35.71.00%
MGM 30.60.80%
Other (none greater than 0.6%) 165.74.60%
  3621.8 

 

Territory% Change vs. 2Q 2009
Australia18%
Brazil34%
China77%
France4%
Germany-21%
India46%
Italy-6%
Japan-5%
Korea-26%
Mexico35%
Russia44%
Spain-13%
UK-14%