UPDATED: Paramount/Hasbro Entertainment’s Transformers One is out of the gate with a $39M global start. From just 50 international box office markets (representing only 40% of the overseas footprint), the first animated Transformers movie in close to 40 years grossed $14M.
The Josh Cooley-directed origins story came in below projections domestically and international is off to a softer start than hoped.
While there are still major markets to come including Brazil, Italy, Korea, China, Germany, UK and France, it’s still a bit of a head-scratcher that the offshore opening wasn’t bigger given reviews, word of mouth and how much perceived anticipation there has been for the movie. A work-in-progress screening at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival had the room on its feet in June. However, we are hearing about general softness in the marketplace — and the back-to-school period can be a tricky one. The hope here is that folks will discover the $75M production as we roll along.
Overall, on a like-for-like basis including previews, the international result is 3% below The LEGO Batman Movie and 16% below Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse for the same markets in release.
Mexico was tops at $2.2M, but only opening at No. 4. Australia opened at No. 3 with $1.5M — there are two weeks of school holidays ahead. Japan was next at $820K with tomorrow a national holiday. Panama debuted at No. 2 with $625K from just 132 locations and Spain grossed $445K at No. 3. Among the No. 1 launches were Philippines ($430K), Ukraine ($135K) and Turkey ($120K).
In Imax, the Cybertron gang grossed $3M.
Also new this session, Universal began staggered international release on DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot, with eight markets grossing $6.9M, including $4M from China. Excluding China, the performance is in line with Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and above Migration, Elemental and The Bad Guys.
China was the top opener with $4M and a 9.6 on both Maoyan and TPP, the best scores ever for the studio on any of its titles in the market.
In Australia, Wild Robot took advantage of staggered school holidays for a $2M start including $800K from previews and at No.1 in the market. Reviews and audience reactions have been outstanding.
Malaysia opened to $400K including previews, in line with Puss 2 and above Trolls and Migration. Norway opened a week before the rolling fall school break with $200K at No.1. This is above Bad Guys and well above Puss 2 and Migration excluding previews.
The first two Latin American markets, Uruguay and Venezuela, each launched Wild Robot at No. 1 with a combined $122K. South Africa and Kenya also kicked off with a combined $97K, which is in line with the launch of Elemental and well above Bad Guys and Migration. The animated title is ranking No.1 in South Africa.
There are still several majors to go throughout September and October. Japan launches in February.
The overall leader, and in its third weekend, Warner Bros’ Beetlejuice Beetlejuice remained the No. 1 movie internationally and globally. In 76 overseas markets, it added $17.2M for a terrific 37% drop and a running $103M international box office cume. The worldwide total is $329.7M through today. The Imax portion of the global cume is $19.1M.
Notable strong holds were seen in Mexico (-19%), Spain (-25%), Italy (-28%), Brazil (-28%), Belgium (-30%), Colombia (-34%), Holland (-37%), Germany (-38%), Australia (-38%) and France (-39%). Japan will release next week on September 27.
The ghost with the most held the No. 1 spot in the UK, now with a $23.8M cume. Mexico also was No. 1 again and has conjured $15.1M to date. France and Germany, which were in their sophomore sessions, also kept Tim Burton’s sequel at No. 1.
The Top 5 to date are UK, Mexico, France ($7.6M), Spain ($6.7M) and Australia ($6.3M).
Universal/Blumhouse’s Speak No Evil added four more markets, bringing the total to 77. The overseas weekend invited $7.3M to reach a $20.9M cume through Sunday, performing in line with Trap and Hereditary, and above The Menu and Night Swim in the same markets (excluding China). The global cume so far is $42.4M.
France opened to $800K, in line with The Menu and Don’t Breathe and above Longlegs and Blink Twice excluding previews. Germany debuted with $600K, performing in line with The Black Phone and Night Swim excluding previews. Performance so far is strongest in the west of Germany, and the title is seeing strong drive-in play.
The Top 5 to date are UK ($3.7M), Mexico ($2.2M), Spain ($1.7M), Italy ($1.1M) and Australia ($969K).
In local play, Korea’s I, The Executioner has reached $40.7M through its sophomore session. It’s currently the No. 4 movie of 2024, and the third-biggest among homegrown titles in the market.
MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE
It Ends with Us (SNY): $4.5M intl weekend (63 markets); $188M intl cume/$334.8M global
Despicable Me 4 (UNI): $4.2M intl weekend (84 markets); $587.8M intl cume/$948.1M global
Alien: Romulus (DIS): $3.4M intl weekend (52 markets); $237.9M intl cume/$341.5M global
Deadpool & Wolverine (DIS): $3.4M intl weekend (52 markets); $689.4M intl cume/$1,316.7M global