'Monster Hunt’ rules international box office on $72m

ASIAN TENTPOLES

Hong Kong-based Edko’s $30m Chinese-language fantasy adventure Monster Hunt is based on the supernatural classic Strange Tales From A Chinese Studio and centres on the last descendant of the monster kings who tries to unite his race with humans.

Bai Baihe stars in the live-action film, directed by Shrek The Third co-director Raman Hui. The film grossed $72m over the weekend to stand at $99m.

Superhero spoof Jian Bing Man featuring a cameo from Jean-Claude Van Damme added $61m for $62.4m and Monkey King: Hero Is Back climbed by $22.5m to $70m.

Next Entertainment World’s NLL – Battle Of Yeonpyeong from South Korea added $4m to reach $38m.

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UPDATED: Universal and Illumination’s Minions was the biggest Hollywood film outside North America thanks to a confirmed $66.1m gross that held off a $57.2m debut from Disney/Marvel Studio’s Ant-Man. Combined with $49.2m from North America, Minions ranked as the number one worldwide release on $115.3m. The international tally stands at $410.4m.

Jurassic World crossed $900m internationally following a $12.2m weekend take from 63 territories, overtaking $895.2m set by The Avengers to reach $902.3m and become the sixth biggest international of all time.

It was also due to overtake stablemate Fast & Furious 7’s global tally of $1.512bn on Sunday (July 19) to rank as the fourth biggest worldwide film. The final release is scheduled for Japan on August 5.

Ted 2 added $7.1m from 40 territories to reach a lacklustre $66.2m. The 2012 original finished on $330.6m. Pitch Perfect stands at $96.9m and Unfriended $18.3m.

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UPDATED: Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man opened day-and-date with North America in its first 37 territories to score a confirmed $56m, of which $3m comes from 182 Imax sites. The total rises to $113.2m worldwide factoring in the number one $57.2m North American launch.

In a quartet of number one results, the UK generated $6.3m, Russia $4.6m, Australia and Brazil $4m apiece. Mexico produced $5.6m for second place.

Elsewhere the Paul Rudd starrer grossed $4m in France and $3.6m in Taiwan. In a string of estimates the film delivered $2.8m in Malaysia, $2.7m in the Philippines, $2.6m in Thailand and $1.1m in Argentina.

Ant-Man opened top in all its Asia Pacific territories and delivered the biggest launch for a Marvel Cinematic Universe release in  Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

It also ranks number one in Israel, Ukraine, Turkey, Portugal and the Czech Republic.

Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out grossed $21.3m from 48 territories to climb to $183.8m and opened top in Spain on $3m. It has reached $14.5m in South Korea after two sessions and stands at $29.2m in Mexico, $21.1m in Australia, $18.6m in Russia and $18.2m in France.

Avengers: Age Of Ultron stands at $937.5m internationally and $1.393.5m worldwide.

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UPDATED: Terminator: Genisys grossed a confirmed $21.5m from 64 territories to push the running total to $196m. The sci-fi reboot produced a strong number one debut in the UAE on $1.2m from 38 sites for new Terminator franchise and Arnold Schwarzenegger records and scored the studio’s fourth biggest opening weekend.

In the second weekend Japan delivered $2.8m from 338 venues for $11.4m, Germany $1.6m from 722 for $5.9m, Argentina $977,000 from 134 for $4.1m and Spain $556,000 from 444 for $2.9m.

A sequence of notable third weekend hauls saw South Korea produce $2m from 470 for $22.7m, the UK $1.3m from 590 for $14.4m, Russia $935,000 from 1,390 for $21m, France $1.1m from 755 for $8.8m, Brazil an estimated $1m from 509 for $10.1m and Australia an estimated $844,000 from 267 for $9.5m.

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UPDATED: Magic Mike XXL generated a confirmed $5.4m from 39 markets to stand at $30.5m. The drama added $1.7m from 398 screens in Australia to climb to $6.7m after two weekends and $814,000 from 408 in the UK for $8.5m after three. It opened in Germany this week followed by Brazil on July 30.

Horror release The Gallows ventured into a further four markets, delivering $2.2m from 18 territories to reach an early $4.3m. It opened in Mexico in third place on $764,000 from 385 and arrived in the UK on $522,000 from 316. Argentina has generated $984,000 after two weekends. The Gallows arrives this week in France, Australia, Russia and Brazil. San Andreas stands at $311.2m and Mad Max: Fury Road $217.3m.

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UPDATED: Spy grossed a confirmed $1.9m from 42 markets to reach $120.3m and arrived in pole position in Italy on $681,442 from 290 screens. UK audiences have generated an estimated $15.4m after seven sessions and and Spain an estimated $2.1m after four, while France has produced a confirmed $4.9m after five.

Paper Towns added $3.4m from five for a promising early $6.7m. The mystery-romance from The Fault In Our Stars author and YouTube video blogger John Green opened at number three in Australia on $1.5m from 225 and has grossed $4.5m in Brazil after two sessions. It is scheduled to open in North America this week via Fox.

Far From The Madding Crowd stands at $15.6m from 20.