Over There: International Box Office Report for April 24-26, 2015

By Edwin Davies

April 27, 2015

HULK SMASH PAPARAZZI!

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This week is sort of a transitional week at the international box office as we mark the end of one film's reign at the top and anticipate the domination of another. A week ahead of its US debut, Avengers: Age of Ultron debuted in roughly 55% of the markets it is due to open in and earned a huge $201.2 million. It opened considerably higher than the first Avengers film in most of those territories, which means that it should be able to equal or better the $895.2 million that the first film made back in 2012. Considering the expansion of the Chinese market, it could easily earn $1 billion internationally. Now the race is on to see whether or not Marvel can wrestle the fastest to $1 billion record from Dominic Toretto and Co.

Speaking of: despite falling to number two this weekend, Furious 7 passed the $1 billion mark internationally, becoming only the third film ever to achieve that milestone, joining a club previously reserved only for films directed by James Cameron. At least Furious 7 was directed by James Wan, keeping the club James-exclusive until Joss Whedon gatecrashes it, which will at least guarantee first initial conformity, as will J.J. Abrams when The Force Awakens lands in December. Basically, if you want to have ungodly success, your first name better start with a J. Anyway, Furious 7 added $69.7 million this week, and in the process became the highest grossing film in Chinese box office history with a total of $323 million.

Third this week is The Left Ear, a Chinese coming-of-age film that earned a huge $27 million in its debut weekend. It earned almost double the total of the film in fourth place, DreamWorks' Home, which added $13.7 million for a new overseas total of $147.1 million, and a global total to $300.8 million.




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Cinderella rounds out the top five, earning $8.5 million. The Disney live-action phenomenon has so far accrued $284 million from international audiences, and is closing in on $500 million globally, a mark it should reach in a few weeks.

Sixth this week is Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. As has been mentioned in this column before, American comedies tend not to play as well internationally as they do at home, except in rare cases like The Hangover series, and we're seeing that pattern play out again here since, despite earning $43.9 million at home, it has only managed $17.8 million so far from elsewhere.

Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection "F" is seventh this weekend as the 19th (NINETEENTH!) feature film based on the popular series earned $3.8 million and has $15.2 million to date.

Liam Neeson continues to haunt the chart in eighth with Run All Night, which added $3.3 million. The mildly disappointing action film has so far earned $33.7 million overseas, absorbing some of the losses it made at home, where it fizzled out with $26.2 million.

Insurgent is ninth this week as the Shailene Woodley vehicle that no one seems to care that much about added $1.5 million. The second film in the Divergent series has now earned $147.3 million internationally and $272.1 million globally. It is very slowly creeping up on the first film's final tally of $288.7 million.

Finally this week is Age of Adaline, the romantic fantasy starring Blake Lively which wound up doing better at the US box office this weekend than almost anyone expected. It earned $1.3 million from a scant seven territories, and has so far earned $2.3 million.


     


 
 

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