
Intl box office update: ‘lucy’ crosses $100m overseas; ‘sin city 2’ drops in russia; more
- Select a language for the TTS:
- UK English Female
- UK English Male
- US English Female
- US English Male
- Australian Female
- Australian Male
- Language selected: (auto detect) - EN
Play all audios:

4TH UPDATE, 2:33 PM PT: Universal, Sony and Lionsgate have weighed in, so we have nine more titles reporting (see below for final numbers on all films). 3RD UPDATE, 12:45 PM PT: Actuals are
coming in for the international weekend with Disney, Paramount, Fox and Warner Bros reporting. There were no major discrepancies, although _GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY_ jumped from an estimated
$20.7M to $21.3M for the weekend. In the reverse, _SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR_ was less sexy than predicted in Russia with $3.35M versus an initial estimate of $4.7M. Fox is releasing
there on behalf of A Company Russia. Figures have been updated for the films above as well as _HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2_, _TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES_, _INTO THE STORM_, _DAWN OF THE
PLANET OF THE APES_, _HERCULES_, _TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION_, _THE FAULT IN OUR STARS_, _RELATOS SALVAJES_, _LET’S BE COPS_, _RUROUNI KENSHIN: KYOTO INFERNO_, and the Fox portion of
_EXPENDABLES 3_. More to come… 2ND UPDATE, 4:41 PM PT: Luc Besson’s _LUCY_ shot to the top of the international chart in its 4th frame this week with a total addition of $34.6M from
Universal and EuropaCorp markets — and there’s more to come next week. In 38 territories, Lucy grabbed a total of $65.2M to boost its international total to $104.4M. Also this session,
_GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY_ added $21.3M; _HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2_ took $18.19M and the _TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES_ served up $15.5M. Nevertheless, the frame was down 31% on the last
which was led by _HTTYD2_ off of a fire-breathing kickoff in China. Compared to 2013, the frame was down 12%. At this time last year, Universal had re-released _Jurassic Park_ in 3D for its
20th anniversary and stomped up a $33.3M weekend. Also playing in the waning days of summer last year were _Elysium_ and _Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters_, while _Monsters University_ had
just enrolled in China. Next week, it’s the turn of _DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES_ to head to the Middle Kingdom. That was the No. 2 market for the earlier film, _Rise Of The Planet Of The
Apes_. Also looming, _Lucy_ takes Japan, Mexico and Brazil, among others; _GOTG_ lands in Germany; _Hercules_ heads to France; _Let’s Be Cops_ laughs its way to a dozen new markets
including the UK/Ireland and Russia which have been good to Hollywood comedies this summer; and _Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles_ and _Into The Storm_ have Korea in their sights. Amongst the
entirely new entries on deck next week are _Felony_, which bows in Australia, written by and starring Joel Edgerton; _Life Of Crime_ which goes day-and-date in India and stars Jennifer
Aniston; and Pierce Brosnan in _The November Man_’s international kickoff in India and Singapore. 1ST UPDATE, 3:14 PM PT: Fresh figures are in below for Warner Bros titles including _Into
The Storm_, which added $8.8M, as well as the studio’s local Japanese production _RUROUNI KENSHIN: KYOTO INFERNO_ and Argentine pic _RELATOS SALVAJES_ (_Wild Tales_). The latter, which
debuted in Cannes, was especially impressive in its home market where its $2.5M opening weekend was the biggest all-time opening weekend for an Argentinian production, the highest opening
weekend of the year across all films and the highest all time debut frame for Warner Bros. Also freshly in, Rentrak reports that _THE EXPENDABLES 3_ has added an estimated $16.5M in its 2nd
frame for an overseas cume of $37.7M from 31 markets. That’s a slightly more muscular performance after last weekend’s $15M. Numbers for Fox and Universal territories were previously
reported below but market total was $9.5M. In total, the film added about 15 markets this weekend including France, Korea, Brazil, Belgium, Greece, India, Argentina and Chile. A handful of
non-U.S. pics are factoring in the Top 20 this week. New entry _THE FOUR 3_ debuted at No. 7 amongst major international players. The Chinese pic entered the charts with $15.1M from bows in
CHINA and SINGAPORE. The Gordon Chan-helmed 3D period action-fantasy was No. 1 in China and is the 3rd and final film in the franchise about crime solving government constables. The series
is based on the novels by Woon Swee Oan. The first film bowed in 2012 with $9.5M in China, ultimately grossing $30.5M there. The 2013 follow-up kicked off with $12.6M in China, but wrapped
lower than its predecessor with $24.7M. Elsewhere in Asia, KOREA’s sea-faring adventure _THE PIRATES_ added $8.3M for a $40.2M cume. Also, HONG KONG romantic comedy _TEMPORARY FAMILY_ opened
to $6.8M. That film, directed by Cheuk Wan-chi, uses property obsession and real estate troubles as a backdrop to set up the story of four unlikely folks who are forced to live under the
same roof. Finally, teen smash _The Inbetweeners 2_ has now cumed $49.2M in the UK and AUSTRALIA, adding $6.7M this frame. Individual territory round-ups will return next week. PREVIOUS,
12:29 PM PT: International weekend estimates are almost all in, and so far there are a handful of notable holdover/expansion highlights — as well as one new pic that had a sinfully good
Russian bow compared to its domestic debut. _HIGHLIGHTS_: In its 4th frame, _Lucy_ added a heady $34M and handily crossed the $100M offshore mark, while _Guardians Of The Galaxy_ is within
orbit of $500M global. _How To Train Your Dragon 2_ passed $400M internationally and will soon pass _The Croods_ and _Puss In Boots_‘ overseas totals. After this session, _Maleficent_ has
now grossed $510M internationally giving it a worldwide cume of $748M. That pushes it past _X-Men: Days Of Future Past_ and puts it at No. 2 globally among movies released this year — behind
_Transformers: Age of Extinction_. _NEW_: In a twist on its domestic performance, new entry _Frank Miller’s Sin City: A Dame To Kill For_ found a warm welcome in RUSSIA. Fox is releasing
there on behalf of A Company where it earned $3.35M. That’s 53.17% of its $6.3M three-day domestic haul. There’s a bit of homefield advantage there with several Russians investing in the pic
including billionaire Oleg Boyko. This type of film also tends to perform well in the fast-burn market. We’ll have to wait a bit to see how it fared in its other dozen or so opening markets
as indie distributors have it most elsewhere. _HOLDOVERS/EXPANSIONS_: Luc Besson’s _LUCY_ continued flexing its muscle overseas this weekend with an additional $34.6M in its 4th session. Of
that, $28.9M was earned across 38 territories where Universal is releasing. The international total for Universal is now $65.2M and the overall offshore take is $104.4M. The Scarlett
Johansson-led sci-fi actioner has now bested the $81.8M overseas box office of 2008’s _Taken_. Besson co-wrote and produced, but did not direct, that pic which established Liam Neeson as an
international action draw and spawned a lucrative franchise. It’s also surpassed comp title _Limitless_ ($82.6M). With 22 markets still to roll out through September, it will continue to
grow. Next weekend, _Lucy_ opens in nine territories including Brazil, Mexico, Thailand and Japan where Besson has a strong track record. Among the new opening markets this frame, _Lucy_
debuted at No. 1 in Israel, New Zealand, Portugal, Serbia/Montenegro, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Ukraine and the UK/Ireland. It also held first place for the second week in
GERMANY where its 11-day total is $9.9M. With a huge $6.2M at 88 dates, TAIWAN had Universal’s 2nd biggest opening behind _Fast & Furious 6_ and the best bow ever for Besson. It was also
worth a massive $70,454 per screen. Besson’s recent publicity tour in Taipei paid off. In the UK/IRELAND, _Lucy_ earned $5.1M at 487 dates and 26% of the market. That’s Universal’s 4th No.
1 opening this year and, as with many other markets, is the biggest-ever opening of a film directed by Besson. SPAIN had 41% of the market with $3.4M at 328 dates. The debut gives Universal
its biggest opening of 2014 and Besson’s biggest opening ever in the country. Across Chile, Israel, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Serbia/Montenegro, Singapore, Sweden and Ukraine,
Besson also notched his biggest openings ever. Ahead of the weekend, _Lucy_ was running as the No. 7 film of the year in FRANCE where it’s released by Besson’s EuropaCorp. _GUARDIANS OF THE
GALAXY_ is closing in on $500M with the global cume now standing at an estimated $489M. It’s back in the No. 1 spot domestically and has risen above _Transformers: Age Of Extinction_ to be
the No. 3 movie of 2014 and the top grossing release of the summer. Overseas, the James Gunn-directed space romp opened in INDONESIA and added $21.3M across 66 markets (70% of its
international footprint). With $238M in offshore coin — and Germany, Italy, Japan and China all still yet to release — it should soon overtake the domestic cume which currently stands at
$251.88M. The top overseas markets are the UK ($37.1M), Russia ($34M), Mexico ($18M), Australia ($17.8M) and Brazil ($15.5M). After a huge bow in China last frame, _HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
2_ flew past the $400M international mark this weekend with an added $18.11M from 48 markets. Per Fox, it’s on pace to surpass _The Croods_ and _Puss In Boots_ in the coming days to become
the 19th highest grossing animated title of all time internationally. It currently stand at $402.3M. In CHINA, it earned a further $11M for a local cume of $48.19M. It was No. 2 in the
market. The China cume is 3.5 times bigger than the lifetime cume of the first _Dragon_. Also notable, in week two in ITALY, _HTTYD2_ fired up $2.2M, for a local total of $7.25M. Overseas
auds keep shelling out for Paramount and Nickelodeon’s _Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles_. The reboot now has an offshore cume of $93.5M after carving out another $15.5M at 4,085 locations in 35
territories. RUSSIAn audiences have held on tight with an additional $2.4M in frame three for a $25.6M cume. BRAZIL added $3.6M for a total $11.4M after two sessions, and MEXICO served up a
$1.5M 3rd weekend for a total of $15.6M. THAILAND opened at No. 1 with $1.2M from 55 locales — 21% above the opening result of _Thor_. Among upcoming bows, the _Turtles_ will roll along to
Korea, Australia, Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, and the UK through mid-October with a Japan bow set for February. _INTO THE STORM_ grossed $8.8M from 3,625 screens over the
weekend, bringing the international cume to $30.2M in 43 markets. In the UK it whipped up $1.85M from 432 screens (including previews); JAPAN grossed an estimated $1.73M from 371 screens
(including previews); and GERMANY opened to $451K from 345 screens. Warner Bros’ disaster pic was also No. 1 and 2 in PERU and COLOMBIA, respectively. The top international markets so far
are Russia ($6.4M), Malaysia ($2.3M) and France ($2.25M). Italy, Korea, Brazil, Spain, Mexico, Australia and China are on deck in the coming weeks. Fox’s _Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes_ is
still swinging with $8.56M from 4,632 screens in 61 markets. The international cume is now $353.28M with the UK leading the charge. The total there is now $52.94M – at least 48% bigger than
_Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes_. That movie’s 2nd and 3rd biggest overseas markets were China and Japan which are both yet to see _Dawn_. Paramount’s _Hercules_ extended its run to MEXICO
with a strong No. 1 bow of $4.3M at 654 sites. The start is on par with swords and sandals pic _Prince Of Persia_, the studio says. In total, the Dwayne Johnson starrer added $8.3M from 29
territories and at 2,119 dates this weekend for a cume of $90.7M. Key markets to come include France, Brazil, Germany, Spain and Japan. _Transformers: Age Of Extinction_ lifted its overseas
cume to $821.5M with an extra $5.4M from 44 territories playing in 1,909 locations. The Paramount release traveled to its final market with VENEZUELA grossing a No. 1 $2.2M at 70 sites.
Anticipation was evidently skyscraper-high with the bow the biggest opening of all time in the market. Still playing in JAPAN, _TAOE_ posted $1.6M in its 3rd weekend at 337 locations for a
cume of $22.3M. _The Fault In Our Stars_ reached higher this weekend with $5.37M versus $4M last frame. Playing in 31 markets, it bowed in FRANCE with $2.37M and had a strong
counterprogramming hold in KOREA with $1.57M – that was a 4% increase on opening weekend during a particularly strong local period. The international cume is now $156.63M, with Fox releases
in three of the top 10 international markets still to come. _Step Up All In_ sashayed its way to ITALY with a No. 2 bow of $2M on 441 screens. The debut was similar to the success of
_Revolution_ and was a solid No. 2 ahead of openers _Deliver Us From Evil_ and _Neighbors_. It also clocked a stronger per screen average in Fox’s _How To Train Your Dragon 2_. In SPAIN it
had an initial three-day tally of $376K from 193 screens and opened at a soft No. 7. Overall, the 5th film in the series added $5M from 44 markets for an international cume of $53M.
Universal is also distributing in 18 territories. The next major debuts will be in September in Korea and Australia. Still unspooling, _Sex Tape_ from Sony reeled in an estimated $3.8M
including $848K on 232 screens in its virgin trip to BRAZIL. CENTRAL AMERICA launched at No. 1 with $239K on 94 screens, and DENMARK opened to $238K. The Cameron Diaz-starrer now has an
overseas cume of $38.9M with the UK, France, Germany, and Italy to open in the coming weeks. Sony’s _Deliver Us From Evil_ earned an estimated $3.4M in 27 markets, bringing the overseas cume
to $18M. Openings this weekend included the crowded UK with $1M on 302 screens; ITALY with $855K on 229; KOREA at $390K on 197; and COLOMBIA at $279K on 122. Russia, France, Germany, Spain,
Mexico, Brazil, and Japan bow in the coming month. _22 Jump Street_ grossed an estimated $2.6M in 30 markets (on 1,290 screens) as the offshore reached $118M for Sony. SPAIN launched to
$709K for a No. 3 berth that was 56% bigger than the opening of _21 Jump Street_. Other openings include FINLAND, which earned $167K on 46 screens; and HUNGARY, which grossed $162K on 39.
France and Mexico release this week with Brazil to follow. Warner’s Argentine pic _RELATOS SALVAJES_ (_Wild Tales_), which played in competition in Cannes, started its rollout this weekend
in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Peru. The Damián Szifrón-helmed pic grossed $2.7M from 373 screens in those markets. It’s produced by Pedro Almodovar and was acquired by Sony Pictures
Classics at the festival. The darkly comic film launched on 288 screens in ARGENTINA, dominating the market with a 59% share. With $2.5M, it had the highest all-time opening weekend for an
Argentinian production beating previous record holder _Metegol_ (_Underdogs_). It also marked the highest opening weekend for the industry in 2014, and the highest all time WB opening
weekend – outperforming the starts of all of the _Harry Potter_ and _Hobbit_ movies. In URUGUAY, it was No. 1 with 56% of the Top Five and had the all-time best opening weekend for an
Argentinian movie in the market. In CHILE, it was the 3rd highest opening for an Argentinian film. Warner also has the movie in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Spain
and France. In its 2nd frame, _Expendables 3_ continued runs in RUSSIA and SPAIN via Universal adding $1.7M at 1,333 dates. The cume in both markets is now $9.59M. Russia added $1.2M at
1,021 dates for an 11-day total of $6.3M. Spain brought in $456K at 294 dates for a 10-day gross of $3.3M. Italy opens on Sept 4. Via Fox, _Expendables 3_ earned $3.94M in GERMANY and
AUSTRIA. The latter, from whence star Arnold Schwarzenegger hails, was a No. 1 debut. Germany, with $3.39M, fell in just behind _Lucy_ for No. 2. Universal’s _Neighbors_, which is about to
wrap up the party internationally, added an estimated $1.5M for an international total of $116.6M. ITALY opened at 236 dates on Thursday and grossed $567K. Venezuela opens on Aug 29. _Let’s
Be Cops_ collared another $1.48M from 400 screens in 12 markets in its 2nd frame. A solid opening in NORWAY ($349K, +10% bigger than _Neighbors_) partnered with a strong hold in HOLLAND
($455K No. 2, down 5%). The early international cume is $2.58m. The UK and Russia release next weekend. _GUTEN TAG, RAMON_, Fox International Productions’ film about the unlikely friendship
of a young Mexican man and a retired German nurse, opened to $1.15M from 373 screens in MEXICO. Directed by Jorgé Ramírez-Suárez, it scored the No. 3 position and the 2nd highest per screen
average among wide releases. Warner Bros’ Japan’s _RUROUNI KENSHIN: KYOTO INFERNO_ is still running in the top three films after bowing locally on August 1. The total in JAPAN is now $37.1M
on 348 screens. The action drama sequel opened this weekend to $1M from 136 screens in the PHILIPPINES. It was the biggest opening ever for a Japanese film in the market and surpassed the
lifetime gross of the first installment. After crossing $100M worldwide last frame, horror pic _The Purge: Anarchy_ scared up an estimated $808K at 1,101 dates in 27 territories for an
international total of $32.4M. There are 13 territories to open over the next two months. _Boyhood_’s limited run in nine Universal territories was good for an estimated $260K at 200 dates
for a total of $8.47M. NORWAY opened this weekend with $55K at 43 dates. After its 7th UK/IRELAND frame, the cume is $4.4M there. Dates roll out through January.