International Box Office: Pirates Sink Competition, Plunder Box Office
May 25, 2011
While Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides opened on the low end of expectations domestically, it broke records internationally with $222.03 million on 18,210 screens in 65 markets over the weekend for a total opening of $260.43 million. This is the largest ever international opening, and adding in its domestic debut, the film has $350.58 million worldwide. Its biggest single market was Russia, surprisingly, with $26.75 million on 1,716 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $31.42 million. That's more than At World's End earned in that market in total. The film also reportedly earned $20 million during its debut in China, but further details are not available.
On Stranger Tides opened in first place in all other major markets with debuts ranging from $19.36 million on 793 screens in Germany to $7.43 million on 949 screens over the weekend in Italy, although its total opening was $9.98 million. The film helped itself to $18.75 million on 569 screens in U.K. and in Japan it earned a nearly identical opening of $18.57 million on 800 screens, with $14.78 million over the weekend. In France, it pulled in $12.77 million on 726 screens. The film topped $10 million in both South Korea ($10.39 million on 1,021 screens over the weekend and $11.98 million in total) and in Australia ($10.43 million on 620). Meanwhile, it came close in Mexico ($9.44 million on 2,314); and in Spain ($8.96 million on 465); and in Brazil ($8.24 million on 734).
There are only two downsides here. Firstly, there are no major markets left, while its reviews are weak. It is unlikely it will have the same legs as the previous films in the franchise. On the other hand, unless it makes less during the rest of its run as it has made so far, it should break even early in its home market run.
Fast Five was way back in second place with $26.63 million on 7,683 screens in 58 markets but it did hit double-milestone with $322.20 million internationally and $508.36 million worldwide. It could reach $600 million worldwide, but not till it opens in Japan in October.
Thor was the only other film worth talking about, and that's only because it came close to a couple milestones. The film added $7.82 million on 6,581 screens in 55 markets for totals of $245.97 million internationally and $391.33 million worldwide. It opens in Japan in July, but before it does it will have $250 million internationally and $400 million worldwide. That should be enough to earn a profit, assuming the worldwide P&A budget wasn't unreasonably high.
It was a milestone week for Black Swan, which crossed $200 million internationally since last week. Over the weekend it added $2.22 million on 348 screens in 3 markets for totals of $204.64 million internationally and $311.59 million worldwide.
Filed under: International Box Office, Thor, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Fast Five, Black Swan