International Box Office: Hobbs and Shaw Fall Short of Nezha

August 8, 2019

Nezha

Nezha continued to grow in China, earning $128.49 million over the weekend, which was not only the best film in China, but the biggest movie internationally. Furthermore, the film has earned $342.33 million, putting it ahead of Zootopia as the biggest animated film of all time in that market. And it didn’t just tiptoe ahead of the competition. Nezha is over $100 million above Zootopia in China. I really hope it gets a release here, as not enough Chinese movies are seen outside of Asia.

Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw was close behind with an opening weekend of $119.0 million in 63 markets. It did very well in many of these markets, including Russia, where it earned first place with $8.29 million in 1,716 theaters. Its second-biggest market was the U.K. with $7.75 million in 610 theaters; this is enough for first place over the weekend, but it is lower than the most recent installments in the franchise. On the other hand, it was nearly the biggest opening in the franchise in India with $7.58 million, a mere 2% behind Furious 7. It scored a number of strong openings in many Asian markets, including Indonesia ($7.54 million in 365 screens); Taiwan ($5.96 million in 101 theaters); and Malaysia ($4.58 million in 156). On the other hand, it only managed second place in Japan ($6.64 million in 347 screens), Germany ($5.21 million in 620 theaters); and Brazil ($3.74 million in 659). The film hasn’t opened in France, Italy, South Korea, or China, so it is far from done. It was an expensive movie to make, but if it does as well in China as it has done in many other Asian markets, then it will break even sooner rather than later.

The Lion King was knocked into third place, but was still impressive with $72.0 million in 53 markets for totals of $764.9 million internationally and $1.196 billion worldwide. It became the fourth film released in 2019 to get to that milestone, but it will be far from the last. Additionally, the film has yet to open in Japan, doing so this weekend, and in Italy, where it debuts closer to the end of the month, so it is not done just yet.

The Bravest earned second place in China and fourth place internationally with $56.99 million over the weekend for a nine-day total of $82.20 million.

Exit opened in first place in its native South Korea and fifth place internationally with $14.95 million on 1,660 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $20.46 million.

Toy Story 4 fell out of the top five, but we will continue to track it as it reaches for $1 billion. This past weekend, it earned $10.2 million in 36 markets for totals of $549.2 million internationally and $959.4 million worldwide. The film opens in a few smaller markets this weekend, including Poland, which tends to be a lucrative market for animated films, while it has yet to open in Germany. Even without those markets, its trailing legs have been so long that it would have a chance of hitting $1 billion worldwide. With those markets, it’s just a matter of when and not if.

Filed under: International Box Office, Toy Story 4, The Lion King, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Lie huo ying xiong, ek-si-teu, Ne Zha (哪吒之魔童降世), Fast and the Furious