International Box Office: Hornet Stings the Competition
January 26, 2011
Thanks to a combination of solid openings and better than expected holds, The Green Hornet was able to climb into top spot with $18.53 million on 4706 screens in 43 markets for a total of $37.55 million after just two weeks of release. In Australia, the film earned first place with $2.99 million on just 289 screens for a very impressive per screen average. It was also the biggest hit in Mexico with $2.55 million on 439 screens. On the other hand, it struggled in Japan opening in third place with $1.80 million on 459 screens. With a per screen average of well under $5000, it will likely disappear quite quickly in that market. On the up side, the film held well in most major markets down just 30% in France to $1.37 million on 495 screens over the weekend for a total of $3.66 million after two. In Germany it was down just 35% to $2.69 million on 612 screens over the weekend for a total of $7.81 million, also after two. While it was down 37% in the U.K. to $1.90 million on 431 screens over the weekend for a two-week total of $6.11 million. With openings in South Korea, Italy, Russia, and Brazil ahead, it could top $100 million internationally and $200 million worldwide. That would be more than enough to be considered a success.
The latest Chinese film to secure a spot on the international chart was Shaolin, which opened in second place with $14.39 million on 667 screens in 5 markets for a total opening of $17.62 million. It's not the only Chinese film making waves this week, but more on that in a bit.
Hereafter shot into second place with 13.67 million on 1868 screens in 29 markets for a total of $30.25 million. The film opened very well in France with $5.38 million on 446 screens, which is inline with its total here, once you take into account the relative size of the two markets. It was also first in neighboring Spain with $3.81 million on 306 screens. It will finish with more internationally than it earned domestically, but that's not saying a whole lot.
Tangled fell from first to fourth with $11.51 million on 4092 screens in 36 markets for a total of $232.75 million internationally and $419.11 million worldwide. For the second weekend in a row, the film had no major market openings, which explains its slide in the rankings. The film earned second place in Brazil with $1.78 million on 447 screens for a surprisingly robust total of $17.57 million after just three weeks of release. By comparison, Toy Story 3 made about $25 million there. In Australia it fell to fourth place with $2.08 million on 466 screens for a total of $17.60 million after three weeks of release. The film opens in the U.K. this weekend, while it debuts in Spain and Japan next month.
Black Swan made its international debut earning fifth place with $11.59 million on 962 screens in 9 markets, including some midweek numbers. It opened in first place in Germany with $2.84 million on 306 screens, while it placed second in the U.K. with $4.41 million on 356. It earned third place in Australia with $2.20 million over the weekend and $2.65 million in total, but it was only playing on 168 screens, which is rather low for that market and equivalent to about 1000 theaters here.
The Tourist slipped to sixth place with $11.05 million on 3758 screens in 56 markets for a total of $140.31 million. It did open in first place in Brazil with $2.23 million on 258 screens, which is quite strong, especially compared to its opening here.
The King's Speech rose a spot to seventh with $9.94 million on 893 screens in 10 markets for a total of $50.12 million. It had no major openings this weekend, but it was down just 4% in the U.K. adding an impressive $6.74 million on 502 screens for a total of $29.22 million after just three weeks of release. In comparison, that's a hair more than Little Fockers has made after five weeks of release, and that film will finish with around $300 million worldwide.
Further down the list we find Let The Bullets Fly, a Chinese film that has earned $101.70 million after six weeks of release. And of that, $100.65 million was earned in its native market. Occasionally a Japanese film will hit $100 million in Japan, it's happened in France, and if you include Harry Potter or Bond as British films, then it has happened in the U.K. For foreign markets, it is unbelievably rare for a local film to reach the century mark and this is further proof that China has become a major market. (Earning a record $1.5 billion last year was also a major indicator.) I just wish there were detailed box office data released more frequently and regularly.
Filed under: International Box Office, The Green Hornet, Tangled, Black Swan, The Tourist, The King’s Speech, Hereafter