Refresh for latest…: It was smooth sailing for Disney’s Moana 2 this weekend as it reached $600M global following last frame‘s record-breaking bow. The running split is even for the splashy sequel, with $300M domestic and $300M from the international box office.
The full overseas frame was $103.7M in 52 markets, repping a 41% drop. Japan was new this weekend with $6.5M (including previews), for the market’s biggest non-local opening of 2024; biggest December opening ever for an animated title and the No. 3 biggest launch weekend for Walt Disney Animation Studios (behind Frozen and Frozen 2).
Some other key stats here — before we dig into further detail below — include Moana 2 becoming the No. 5 movie of 2024 worldwide, surpassing the entire run of the first Moana at current rates (recall also, that film had Russia in the mix) and charting as the No. 8 studio release of the year overseas (and sans holidays).
In another milestone, Universal’s Wicked has flown past $400M worldwide, to become the biggest non-sequel of the year globally. The worldwide cume through Sunday is $455.6M, including $135M from the international box office. The overseas weekend added 18 markets and grossed $26.9M. The offshore frame was down 38% in the holdovers. More detail to follow.
Fresh this weekend was a powerhouse performance for Allu Arjun-led Indian action crime drama Pushpa 2 – The Rule, which is shattering records both at home and globally. On Thursday, the Sukumar-helmed sequel had the biggest opening day for an Indian film in India and worldwide, and across the four-day frame is estimated to be on track for 590 crore ($70M) in India. With another estimated $20M from offshore markets, that would lift the global debut to $90M, per Deadline sources.
At those estimates, the follow-up to 2021’s Pushpa – The Rise unseats the previous record-holder for top India and global bows, 2017’s Baahubali: The Conclusion. Pushpa 2 is also the first Indian movie ever to cross 400 crore in its opening weekend, doing so from just the Thursday-Saturday portion. Note that these numbers will be updated when more information becomes available.
In Imax, the Mythri Movie Makers title debuted to $1.4M globally. In India, 31 Imax screens delivered $650K for the format’s biggest local-language opening of 2024 and 4th best ever in India.
Starting back from the top, Moana 2 remained the No. 1 non-local movie in all material markets this session (save the Netherlands). Strong holds include such majors as Germany (-21%), Spain (-21%), Brazil (-32%), France (-34%), Italy (-42%), Australia (-43%) and the UK (-44%).
The sequel has already grossed 90% of the final international cume of Moana at current rates ($333M). In Chile, Egypt and Turkey, it is the highest grossing WDAS release ever.
The Top 5 markets to date are France ($32.5M), UK ($27.2M), Germany ($19.7M), Mexico ($19.1M) and Brazil ($16M). Globally, Imax has tallied $14M.
As for Wicked, new markets this session included France (No. 2 start/$2M), Netherlands (No. 1/$1.9M) and Poland ($900K including previews/top bow for a stage musical adaptation).
Excluding China, where the film mustered only $1.2M, the running overseas cume is in line with The Little Mermaid, and above Mamma Mia 2 and Les Miserables at the same point in release.
The strongest market by far is the UK where the cume is now $47.4M, overtaking the lifetime of Aladdin, as well as Jurassic World Dominion, Batman vs Superman and Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2. The current performance is in line with Fantastic Beasts and Mamma Mia 2 at the same point, and above Wonka and Les Miserables.
Rounding out the Top 5 behind the UK are Australia ($17.2M), Korea ($10.6M), Mexico ($8.1M) and Spain ($4.5M). Germany releases December 12. The global Imax cume is $18M.
Also with a good drop, Paramount and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II delivered another $17M from 65 offshore markets (-39%) for a running overseas cume of $235.7M. Global is now at $368.4M.
And, ahead of wider (though not full) release next weekend, Warner Bros began rolling out The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim in Spain, Mexico and Brazil, plus in another 28 smaller markets. Spain led play with $347K, coming in ahead of animated comps Transformers One (+4%), The Boy and the Heron (+8%) and Raya and the Last Dragon (+28%). The total early launch was $2M.
MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE
Red One (WB): $3.5M intl weekend (75 markets); $78.2M intl cume/$164M global
*The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (WB): $2M intl weekend (31 markets); $2M intl cume
Venom: The Last Dance (SNY): $2M intl weekend (65 markets); $333.7M intl cume/$472.8M global
I’m Still Here (SNY): $665K Brazil weekend; $9.2M Brazil cume
Solo Leveling – ReAwakening (CR/SNY): $1.1M intl weekend (32 SPRI markets); $1.7M SPRI cume/$4.1M global
*Denotes New