Hold on tight, because the global box office is on fire! While the U.S. might have been taking a nap over the MLK weekend, the international scene was exploding with record-breaking numbers and some surprising upsets. Disney continues its reign, but a zombie flick and a dark comedy are making waves too. Let's dive into the thrilling details!
Disney's Domination Continues: 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Roars Past $1.3 Billion
It's official: Disney is unstoppable! Not only did 'Zootopia 2' achieve the unthinkable becoming the highest-grossing MPA animated film ever with a staggering $1.7 billion, but James Cameron's 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' has now crossed the $1.3 billion mark. This means that for the last eight weekends, Disney has held the No. 1 spot at the global box office. That's an impressive run! 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' specifically, grossed $61.7M this weekend. Domestically, it brought in $17.2M, while internationally it earned $44.5M. Cumulatively, the movie has earned $367.4M domestically, $955.3M internationally, and $1.32B worldwide. The film remained the top performer in the US for its fifth consecutive weekend. Despite a 33% decline internationally, it held strong in major markets like Germany (-14%), Spain (-17%), and France (-28%). China leads in total earnings with $155.4M, followed by France ($98.9M) and Germany ($80.3M). But here's where it gets controversial... are we seeing a saturation point for these long-running franchises? Are audiences still hungry for more, or are they starting to crave something new?
'Housemaid': Paul Feig's Second Biggest Hit
Paul Feig's 'Housemaid' is proving to be a global success, racking up $36.7M this weekend. Domestically, it pulled in $10.1M, with $26.6M coming from international markets. The cumulative totals are $108.7M (domestic), $138.6M (international), and $247.3M (worldwide). And this is the part most people miss... it's now Feig's second-highest-grossing film ever, only behind 'Bridesmaids' ($324.8M, unadjusted for inflation). The UK market showed a minor dip of -17% but still boasts a running total of $30.4M. What's particularly interesting is its performance in Latin America, where it's either matching or slightly exceeding expectations. Muy bien, indeed!
'Zootopia 2' Still Dominating
'Zootopia 2' continues its reign, holding the No. 1 spot in China and Japan, and its international weekend earnings only eased by -24%. Despite the minimal decline, it still grossed approximately $36.3M ($12M domestically and $24.3M internationally). The total cumulative numbers are $393.2M (domestic), $1.313B (international), and $1.7B (worldwide). New Zealand (+41%) and the Czech Republic (+13%) showed the strongest holds, indicating continued audience enthusiasm.
Zombie Thrills: '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' Debuts with $31 Million
Sony's '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' had a mixed debut. While it underperformed in the U.S. with $13M for the 3-day and $15M for the 4-day weekend, it scored No. 1 openings in the UK ($4.6M) and Mexico ($1.5M). Globally, it earned $31.2M, placing it fourth among the major studios. The international earnings of $16.2M came from over 10,100 screens in 61 markets. It's worth noting that the original '28 Years Later' grossed $80.8M internationally (including $21M in the UK) and $151.3M worldwide. And this is the part most people miss... Horror films, especially subgenres, resonate differently across the globe. For example, gore might work in Germany, but not as well in Latin America (with the exception of Mexico). Supernatural horror, on the other hand, tends to thrive in Catholic countries, the Philippines, and Asia. The next big market for 'Bone Temple' is South Korea.
But here's where it gets controversial... The production cost is reportedly $63M (net of UK tax credits), with another $70M spent on marketing. Director Danny Boyle, writer Alex Garland, and producer Peter Rice are said to collectively earn around $15M per picture. Some sources suggest these movies could be made for significantly less, but bidding wars often inflate costs. The film received a solid A- Cinemascore domestically. But a great Cinemascore doesn't always translate to long-term success.
Other notable films include 'Anaconda', which brought in $7.8M this weekend which pushes its cumulative gross to $122M. Additionally, 'Hamnet' opened to $1.1M in Australia, while 'Song Sung Blue' earned $61K in Korea.
So, what do you think? Are these numbers a sign of continued franchise dominance, or are we on the verge of a major shift in audience preferences? Will '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' be a profitable venture, or will the high production costs and mixed reception hold it back? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
