Universal’s action tentpole and Fast franchise spin-off Hobbs & Shaw starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham roared into life at the weekend, earning a confirmed $179m worldwide in the studio’s fifth highest global debut of all time.
Disney’s The Lion King added $110.2m worldwide to push the running total to $1.196bn, and Sony Pictures International Productions’ Spanish comedy Padre No Hay Más Que Uno (Father There is Only One) debuted on $1.8m for the biggest opening this year for a local film in Spain.
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AUGUST 5 UPDATE: Hobbs & Shaw grossed $119m from 63 territories at the weekend, and while the result came in a little below expectations as audiences have been busy paying to see several blockbusters this summer from Disney, as well as Sony’s Spider-Man: Far From Home, the result is solid and the film is expected to play through August in an uncrowded international arena for action tentpoles. The opening weekend came in where executives thought it would within the framework of the overall franchise to deliver the third highest debut in the Fast universe at current exchange rates in the same territories, behind The Fate Of The Furious and Furious 7.
This was Universal’s fifth-highest-grossing global opening behind The Fate Of The Furious, Jurassic World, Furious 7, and Fifty Shades Of Grey. This was also the highest global debut so far this year behind Disney and superhero films, and the highest debut outside the Fast franchise for Johnson and Statham. Idris Elba and Vanessa Kirby also star.
Russia was the lead market on $8.3m, on par with Fast & Furious 6, and produced Universal’s fifth best summer debut in the territory. The UK was next on $7.7m including previews to open some 20% ahead of Fast Five and on par with Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Both delivered number one results, however Hobbs & Shaw was not expected to overtake the opening weekends of some of the earlier instalments in the more established territories. The Fate Of The Furious opened in the UK on $17.5m, and in Russia on $14.3m.
The action thriller opened top in 50 markets, and did particularly well in Asia. It finished top of the grid in Indonesia on $7.5m, opened in second place in Japan on $6.6m, and opened top on a franchise record in Vietnam on $3.2m, which compares favourably to debuts in each territory by The Fate Of The Furious on $8.5m, $7.7m, and $3.1m, respectively. Indonesia delivered the second highest debut of the franchise and Japan the third, while Vietnam not only set a new franchise best but scored the second biggest Universal opening weekend of all time.
In other highlights, India produced $7.6m for the second highest opening of the Fast franchise and the third highest opening weekend by a Hollywood film so far this year behind The Lion King and Avengers: Endgame. Taiwan generated $5.9m for the third highest opening of the Fast franchise and the third highest opening weekend by a Hollywood film so far this year behind Avengers: Endgame and Captain Marvel, and Malaysia $4.6m for the third highest opening in the franchise, and the second highest August debut of all-time.
Elsewhere, Johnson, Statham and Elba coaxed $6.9m out of Mexican audiences (The Fate Of The Furious arrived on $17.7m) in a number one bow that delivered the second highest August debut, and opened second in Germany on $5.2m. Australia produced $4.9m at number one, Brazil $3.7m at number two and the third best debut in the franchise, and Spain $3.2m. The Middle East deserves special mention after $4.1m delivered the best debut of the franchise, the second highest debut by a Universal film, and the third highest opening ever in Saudi Arabia.
Universal Pictures International executives have high hopes for a mighty bow in China on August 23 – the territory is a key box office driver and the last two Fast instalments each opened on around $180m and finished in the $390m ballpark. Before that, Hobbs & Shaw arrives in France, Italy and Belgium this week, and South Korea on August 14.
Illumination Entertainment’s The Secret Life Of Pets 2 added $13.2m for a $199m international running total and has reached $354.4m worldwide. The animation opened in South Korea at number three on $4.1m and scored the highest animation opening day of the year, ahead of Toy Story 4, and arrived in France in second place on $3.6m. The first film in 2016 generated debuts of $4.7m in South Korea and $5.9m in France. Japan delivered the top holdover for Pets 2, adding $1.4m for $7.2m in the second weekend.
Danny Boyle’s Yesterday crossed the $50m international barrier after $2.2m raised the running total to $51m, while a $4.7m weekend haul overall boosted the global tally to $118.9m. The UK has generated $14.8m after six sessions.
CHINA UPDATE
Enlight Media’s Chinese animation smash Nezha continued its extraordinary trajectory over the weekend, adding $122.8m to reach $336.5m. Yang Yu’s feature directorial debut became China’s highest grossing animation last week when it soared past the RMB1bn ($145m) mark, and is based on a fictitious rebel son of an army commander from Chinese novel The Investiture Of The Gods (Fengshen Yanyi).
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After The Lion King surged past the $1bn global milestone last week, there is still plenty of good will for Jon Favreau’s effects-laden remake, which added $110.2m worldwide to push the running total to $1.196bn. Internationally it added $72m from 53 territories for $764.9m.
Box office across Europe dropped by 45% and the family smash has generated $341m. Executives are calling the film the fifth highest Disney-branded live-action release in the region, although The Lion King is not live-action; rather it is photo-real animation.
Asia-Pacific has generated $266m led by China on $119m, while Latin America has produced $158m and ranks as the third highest-grossing release of all time in Brazil, where it has amassed $54.6m. The UK has generated $62.4m. The Lion King opens in Japan this week, and in Italy on August 21.
Pixar’s Toy Story 4 added $17.4m for $959.3m worldwide, and $10.2m from 36 territories for $549.2m. The animation has mustered $166m in Europe, $189m in Asia-Pacific, and $194m in Latin America. It is the third highest-grossing animation of all time in the UK on $69.6m, and the highest animation release in the Middle East. Mexico is the lead territory on $71.5m.
Aladdin stands at $1.026bn worldwide and $675.2m internationally. The lead market is Japan on $105.1m, followed by South Korea on $88.6m, China on $53.3m, the UK on $45.9m, and Mexico on $32.5m.
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AUGUST 5 UPDATE: Spider-Man: Far From Home grossed $9.1m from 67 markets as the international running total climbed to $714.5m and worldwide $1.08bn. China is the lead market on $205.2m, followed by South Korea on $58.6m, and the UK on $41.2m.
Sony Pictures International Productions’ Spanish comedy Padre No Hay Más Que Uno (Father Is The Only One) debuted on $1.9m for the biggest opening so this year in the market for a local film and boosts SPRI’s 2019 box office in Spain for local titles to $26m and 60% market share.
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Alligator thriller Crawl grossed $1.5m from 30 markets and has reached $17.6m. France delivered the top holdover performance, delivering $744,000 for $2.5m after two weekends. The Middle East has generated $4.3m, and Malaysia $3.2m after four. Crawl opened in Mexico this week, and the UK on August 23.
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Annabelle Comes Home added $2.5m from 66 territories as the international running total climbed to $141.1m, while worldwide tally has reached $215.7m. Mexico is the lead market for the latest addition to the Conjuring horror universe on $16.6m, followed by Indonesia on $8.9m, and the UK on $7.1m.
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Keanu Reeves action thriller John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum stands at $320m worldwide and crossed $150m at the international box office last week.
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