GLOBAL REPORT: 'MI5' Kicks Off To $121M Worldwide, 49% Ahead of 'GHOST PROTOCOL'; 'PIXELS' Freezes in Second Frame; China's 'MONSTER HUNT' Still On The Prowl Nearing $300M

Jonathan Papish @ChinaBoxOffice

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation kicked off by opening #1 in 33 of 40 overseas territories this weekend, grossing an impressive $65 million which is 49% ahead of Ghost Protocol across the same marketplace. Including NA’s opening weekend of $56 million, the fifth film in the MI franchise is at a solid $121 million worldwide after one frame. 

South Korea topped all territories with $17.1 million from 1,201 locations. That’s the biggest opening ever for a Tom Cruise film in Korea and 48% ahead of Ghost Protocol. The UK/Ireland scored $8.7 million for its biggest opening in the MI franchise. Mexico more than doubled Ghost Protocol’s opening with $5.1 million at 680 locations. Taiwan ($5.0M), Australia ($3.9M), Malaysia ($2.7M), and Hong Kong ($2.6) all opened well above Ghost Protocol. Twenty-five markets will release in the coming weeks with all eyes on China opening September 8.

Minions opened well in both Japan and South Korea this week, grabbing $39.1 million (-14%) across 62 territories for an overseas total of $567.3 million and a worldwide total of $854.6 million. Minions is now the 9th highest-grossing animated film of all-time worldwide passing Shrek The Third ($799M). Next up is Ice Age: Continental Drift ($880M). Japan opened at #2 with $6 million behind local manga adaptation Attack on Titan. South Korea opened at #3 with $6.4 million behind MI5 and Assassination. That opening is 5 times bigger than Despicable Me 2’s opening weekend. Germany ($49M cume) and Argentina ($33.8M cume) both held onto #1 for the fifth consecutive weekend, and Minions is the highest-grossing film of all-time (in USD) in Argentina. Five more territories to release: Slovenia (August 13), Italy (August 27), Turkey (September 4), China (September 13), and Greece (September 24).

Monster Hunt had another solid weekend in China, taking the top spot with $30.6 million (-41%) despite several new big releases. The live-action/3D animated hybrid family film is already the highest-grossing Chinese language film of all-time in China with $290 million and is closing in on Transformers 4 ($319 million) to become the 2nd highest-grossing film of all-time. Monster Hunt has been the #1 movie in China for its entire release, 17 consecutive days.

Ant-Man hauled off with $20 million (-44%) in its third weekend of overseas release from 50 territories, opening this weekend in Lebanon and South Africa. The Disney/Marvel heist film has grossed $159.5 million overseas and $291.648 million worldwide. This weekend saw strong holds in Europe, highlighted by France (-29%), Spain (-36%) and Germany (-39%). Top grossing territories are the UK/Ireland ($19.9M), Mexico ($13.2M), Brazil ($10.9M), Russia ($10.5M), France ($9.7M), Taiwan ($9.4M), and Australia ($9.3M). Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man opens in Italy on August 12, South Korea on September 3 and Japan on September 19. It is awaiting a confirmed release date in China.

Sony’s disappointing Pixels opened in 18 new markets this weekend and grossed $19.8 million (-6%) from ~9,000 screens, bringing the overseas cume to $56.5 million and the global total to $102.11 million. Germany opened with $2.6 million, 9% ahead of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and 57% ahead of Ant-Man. Italy took to the top spot with $1.5 million accounting for a third of this weekend’s market. Peru outperformed MI5 this weekend and opened with $755K. Russia held on to #1 again this weekend for $1.1 million and has already surpassed The Lego Movie with $4.7 million total. Other top performing territories are Mexico ($8M), Brazil ($7.3M), Argentina ($5.1M), South Korea ($4.7M), and France ($3.4M). Pixels hits the start button in UK/Ireland on August 12, Australia on September 10, Japan on September 12, and China on September 15.

Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out grossed $17.8 million (-37%) from 51 territories in its seventh weekend of overseas release, lifting the international cume to $272.7 million and the global tally to $602.294 million). Top grossing territories are Mexico ($30.6M), South Korea ($27.2M — the 3rd highest grossing animated release ever behind Frozen and Kung Fu Panda 2, UK/Ireland ($26.6M after just two weekends), Australia ($22.3M — the #3 Pixar release of all-time), France (down 22% this weekend for $21.8M) and Russia ($18.9M). There were no new openings this week. Next weekend sees openings in Taiwan and Lebanon. Italy bows on September 16 and Germany opens October 1.

Paper Towns located $6.0 million (-20%) from 3,930 screens in 57 overseas markets this weekend, lifting the international cume to $25.7 million and the global total to $49.5 million. The YA targeted film opened at #5 in Germany with $829K, #4 in the Netherlands with $322K, and #4 in Belgium with $225K. Top grossing territories so far are Brazil ($6.05 million), Mexico ($3.4 million), Australia ($3.35 million), and Venezuela ($1.4 million). Paper Towns opens in 10 additional markets this month with Spain coming August 7, France on August 12, HK on August 13 and the UK/Ireland on August 17.

Terminator: Genisys grossed $4.8 million this weekend across 64 territories, lifting the international cume to $230 million and worldwide total to $317.65 million. Japan earned $1.3 million for $19.6 million after a month in release, and Germany made $550K for $8.8 after 4 weekends. China opens on August 23.

Jurassic World stomped to $4.4 million (-47%) in 63 territories this weekend, bringing its overseas total to $928 million and its global total to a staggering $1.560 billion. Japan is the final release this Wednesday, August 5. 

Ted 2 opened in Spain and Middle Eastern territories this weekend, grossing $3.6 million across 45 territories. The Seth McFarlane helmed sequel has grossed $79.8 million overseas and $160.3 million worldwide. Spain opened in second place with $1.1 million at 350 locations. France and French-Switzerland open on Wednesday.

Magic Mike XXL grossed $3.5 million (-44%) from 42 markets this weekend, bringing the international cume to $46.4 million and the global total to $111.17 million. Brazil more than doubled the opening of Magic Mike with $1.2 million from 171 screens, and Germany held well with $1.35 million for a $5.2 million cume after two weekends of release. 

Films with $2 million or less overseas this weekend (Weekend Total/Overseas Total/Global Total)

Insidious: Chapter 3 -  $1.5 million/$65.43 million/$117.5 million

Avengers: Age of Ultron - $0.9 million/$941.5 million/$1.398429 billion

Pitch Perfect 2 - $0.59 million/$99.2 million/$283 million

Spy - $0.47 million/$123.56 million/$232.39 million

Trainwreck - $0.29 million/$0.6 million/$80.3 million