‘Mortal Kombat II’, ‘The Sheep Detectives’ and ‘Billie Eilish’ add fresh life to global box office as ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ and ‘Michael’ hit $1bn combined

Worldwide box office: May 8-10

Credit: Comscore. All figures are estimates.

‘Mortal Kombat II’ launches with $63m worldwide

New Line Cinema’s Mortal Kombat II is already well on track to surpass the lifetime box office of 2021 franchise reboot Mortal Kombat, thanks to an estimated $63.0m worldwide opening weekend.

North America provides the heavy lifting on that number with an estimated $40.0m for the Warner Bros release; international markets have delivered $20m.

In spring 2021, the Simon McQuoid-directed Mortal Kombat was negatively impacted by the Covid pandemic, reaching a disappointing $84.4m lifetime.

Sequel Mortal Kombat II, likewise directed by McQuoid, saw its best international result in UK/Ireland (an estimated $2.2m opening), followed by Mexico ($1.7m) and Australia ($1.6m). China and Brazil come next with an estimated $1.4m apiece.

Five years ago, UK and Ireland cinemas remained shuttered when Mortal Kombat began its global rollout, and it was one of many titles launched in late May as venues reopened. A lifetime total of £567,000 (currently $770,000) resulted.

Territories yet to release Mortal Kombat II are Hong Kong (landing there this Thursday, May 14) and Japan (June 5).

Based on the videogame series originally developed by Midway Games in 1992, this martial arts film franchise launched in 1995 with Paul WS Anderson’s Mortal Kombat, grossing $122.2m for New Line and global partners according to available data. Two years later, the John R Leonetti-directed sequel Mortal Kombat Annihilation delivered a weak $51.4m lifetime worldwide.

Mortal Kombat II foregrounds the popular Johnny Cage character (with Karl Urban in the role). Cage did not feature in 2021’s Mortal Kombat.

‘The Sheep Detectives’ delivers $28m opening

Amazon MGM Studios’ The Sheep Detectives has made a promising start with an estimated $28.0m worldwide launch: $15.9m in North America, and $12.1m across international markets via Sony Pictures International Releasing. International markets so far released represent 75% of the international footprint.

UK/Ireland, where the film is set, leads the international pack with a strong estimated $4.5m, including three days of previews from the May 2-4 holiday weekend. Australia comes next with $1.2m, followed by Japan ($760,000) and Mexico ($723,000).

The film is directed by Kyle Balda (Minions/Despicable Me franchise), scripted by Chernobyl/The Last Of Us creator Craig Mazin, and adapted from Leonie Swann’s 2005 novel Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story (which was originally written in German and set in Ireland).

The tale sees a flock of sheep, who are fans of crime fiction, set out to solve the suspicious death of their beloved farmer (Hugh Jackman), after determining that the local policeman (Nicholas Braun) may not be up to the task. Producers include Lord Miller and Working Title Films.

Given a production budget reported at $75m, The Sheep Detectives has a long way to go to achieve profitability. However, family films can go on to achieve high multiples of their opening number, and the well-reviewed The Sheep Detectives does not face much direct competition for the family audience until Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 5 arrives in mid-June.

This coming weekend sees The Sheep Detectives land in Germany, Austria, China, Indonesia and Thailand, with Malaysia to follow on May 27.

‘Billie Eilish’ concert film opens with $20m

It’s not Taylor Swift numbers, but Paramount’s Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour (Live In 3D) has proved a handy addition to the release calendar, launching with an estimated $20.1m worldwide. That number divides into $7.5m for North America and $12.6m across 56 international markets.

UK/Ireland leads for international with an estimated $2.3m including previews, ahead of Germany and France (both $1.7m), Australia ($769,000) and Mexico ($651.000).

Jointly directed by Eilish and James Cameron, Hit Me Hard And Soft was filmed in 3D, and 3D represents 88% of the box office in North America and 86% across international markets.

Previously for the singer, RJ Cutler documentary Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry landed on Apple TV+ in pandemic-era February 2021, and box office for Neon’s concurrent select theatrical release was not reported. In 2023, Billie Eilish: Live At The O2 (Extended Cut) was an event-cinema release, grossing $2.1m worldwide according to available data.

‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ and ‘Michael’ stay top at worldwide box office

Disney/20^th Century Studios’ The Devil Wears Prada 2 remained top of the global box office at the weekend, with Michael – distributed by Lionsgate in North America and Universal internationally – still in second place.

The two films respectively added an estimated $118.8m and $95.0m for the weekend period. Cumulative totals are $433.2m for The Devil Wears Prada 2 and $577.3m for Michael, meaning the pair of films have together delivered $1bn-plus over the past few weeks.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 fell by 44% from its opening in North America, and 46% across international markets. After just two weekends of play, the film has already surpassed the lifetime total of 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada ($327m), although this comparison is not adjusted for inflation.

Among major markets, the strongest holds were achieved in Australia (-21%), Germany (-25%) and France (-36%).

In cumulative, UK/Ireland ($28.5m) has just overtaken Italy ($28.2m) to become the top international market. Brazil ($22.0m), Mexico ($20.1m) and Australia ($18.5m) round out the film’s top five.

The latest box office haul from The Devil Wears Prada 2 helps push Disney past $2bn worldwide in 2026 – becoming the first studio to reach the number so far this year. Other successes include Hoppers ($371.6m) and continued play in 2026 for 2025 releases Avatar: Fire And Ash and Zootopia 2.

Michael, now in its third weekend of play, is continuing to show strong traction, falling 32% in North America and 33% across international markets.

UK/Ireland ($45.9m so far) and France ($30.5m) remain the top international markets, well ahead of Mexico ($22.8m), Brazil ($20.8m), Italy ($20.7m), Germany ($19.6m), Australia ($19.1m) and Spain ($18.9m).

Michael is chasing the $911m reached worldwide in 2018 by fellow Graham King-produced music biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.

Among other holdover titles in the worldwide weekend top 10 box office chart, Universal/Illumination/Nintendo’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie added an estimated $21.4m in its sixth week of release, and has reached $941.2m. Amazon MGM Studios’ Project Hail Mary added an estimated $9.9m and has reached $655.8m.

At the bottom end of the worldwide top 10, Dear You, Vanishing Point and Cold War 1994 are the three films at the top of the Chinese box office currently – all released just over a week ago to coincide with China’s Labour Day holiday (May 1) and Golden Week (May 1-5).

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