Warner Bros.
SATURDAY UPDATE: With Fridays estimates now in, Warner Bros/DCs Aquaman has crossed the $500M mark at the international box office — and, with domestic included, hes reeled in $666.1M worldwide. The latter puts the origins story ahead of last years Justice League ($658M) and lands the fish-mans tale as the No. 9 film both globally and overseas in 2018. Whether Jason Momoas Trident of Neptune can wield a $750M worldwide cume through Sunday is a close call, but even if it doesnt make it tomorrow, it will get there in short order — and is eyeing upwards of $900M global when all is said and done.
There are 78 offshore markets now in release which grossed $18.4M yesterday, swelling the overseas cume to $511.8M. Despite the arrival of some local titles including Kill Mobile and Mojin: The Worm Valley, China remained the biggest market on Friday with $2.4M from 11,800 screens. The running total there is now $251.4M (RMB 1.7B) with another month of extended play ahead.
Australia, which is just getting going on the James Wan-helmed pic, added $2M on Friday from 635 screens. At No. 1 with 50% of the Top 5 films, the local cume is $7.2M. France soaked up $1.34M on Friday, maintaining No. 1 in the 2nd weekend with a cume of $12.2M. Germany also held onto No. 1 with $1.32M yesterday and a $9.6M running total. In Korea, Aquaman is jockeying with the arrival of local pic Take Point, and has grossed $19.5M through Friday (local estimates have it at No. 1 today for $22.4M through Saturday).
The Top 10 markets through Friday are: China ($251.4M), Brazil ($21.5M), Mexico ($20M), Korea ($19.5M), the UK ($16.1M), Indonesia ($14.5M), Russia ($14.2M), France ($12.2M), Taiwan ($10.4M) and Germany ($9.6M).
Aquaman next swims to Italy on January 1 and then hits Japan in February. Note that Japan is not traditionally a major DCEU hub (superheroes outside Spider-Man swing lighter in the market). As the holidays wind down in several markets, the jury is still out on Aquamans potential final haul, although $900M+ is looking likely.
Well have a full update on Sunday.
PREVIOUS, FRIDAY: Warner Bros/DCs Aquaman has clanged past the $600M buoy worldwide as the origins story splashes into its 4th weekend of overseas play and takes its 2nd swim in the North American pool. The international box office cume through Thursday is $492.2M for $629.5M global, planting it firmly in the Top 10 worldwide for 2018. Through Sunday, the James Wan-directed underwater adventure is eyeing around $750M globally.
The heir to Atlantis averaged about $18M per day in the Christmas frames midweeks overseas and is now in 74 offshore markets. Australia dived in on December 26 with the biggest DCEU opening ever and the top start for WB in 2018. The two-day cume is $5.2M.
China is still the splashiest hub, where the Jason Momoa-starrer held No. 1 on Thursday to cume $249M. With todays estimated figures, it has passed $250M and is the No. 9 movie of the year in the Middle Kingdom. Aquaman has been granted an extended China release which means it will play right up to the Chinese New Year holiday period in early February. Weve seen a significant number of extensions on Hollywood fare in the Middle Kingdom this year, increasingly handed out to pics enjoying successful runs and particularly as the market looks to ensure double-digit year-on-year growth.
Elsewhere, Frances 2nd Thursday saw a 128% jump from last weeks opening weekend. The Hexagon cume is $10.9M. As with France, Germany ranked No. 1 on Thursday and has cumed $8.3M. DC-loving Brazil ranked Aquaman at No. 1 on Thursday to cume $20.3M so far.
This weekend in China, Aquaman will face increased competition. Kill Mobile, a remake of 2016 Italian comedy/drama Perfect Strangers, narrowly topped it on Friday, and action adventure Mojin: The Worm Valley opens tomorrow, including on 550 IMAX screens.
In other markets, there will be continued expansion of some newer titles. Paramounts Bumblebee is adding 17 markets including France, the UK, Brazil, Korea and Spain; and Sonys Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is swinging to Mexico and Italy.
Aquaman next opens in Italy on January 1, followed by Japan in February. The latter has not been a major pull for the DCEU (even Marvel movies outside Spider-Man are not slam dunks). Hence, with holiday play in several markets abating over the next week, the jury is still not decided on a final worldwide cume for the fish-man, but signs are certainly pointing to $800M+.
Below are the Top 10 Aquaman markets through Thursday (well be back with updates throughout the weekend):
China: $249M
Brazil: $20.3M
Mexico: $19.2M
Korea: $18.3M
UK: $15.1M
Indonesia: $14.1M
Russia: $13.9M
France: $10.9M
Taiwan: $10.1M
Philippines: $8.8M
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