Movie theaters were looking for a savior and 91裸聊视频淒une: Part Two91裸聊视频� is delivering on the promise. Armed with sandworms, big screen spectacle and the star power of Timoth茅e Chalamet, Denis Villeneuve91裸聊视频檚 science fiction epic stormed the North American box office this weekend earning $81.5 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Internationally, it earned $97 million, bringing its global debut to $178.5 million.
91裸聊视频淒enis made a really extraordinary and special film and its been really exciting to see people respond,91裸聊视频� said Mary Parent, a producer on both 91裸聊视频淒une91裸聊视频� films and chairman of worldwide production at Legendary. 91裸聊视频淚t was made for the big screen and it feels like it91裸聊视频檚 being received as a cinematic event.91裸聊视频�
It91裸聊视频檚 the first major hit of 2024, and one that was sorely needed by exhibitors. Although there have been holdovers from December that have continued to earn, like Warner Bros.91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� Wonka 91裸聊视频� (also starring Chalamet) and Sony91裸聊视频檚 romantic comedy 91裸聊视频淎nyone But You,91裸聊视频� the box office is in a bit of a drought. In the first two months of 2024, no films have crossed $100 million domestically. The highest earning movies have been 91裸聊视频淭he Beekeeper,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淏ob Marley: One Love91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淢ean Girls.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淒une 291裸聊视频� rode a wave of great reviews (94% on Rotten Tomatoes) into a marketplace that was essentially free of competition. Warner Bros. released it in 4,071 locations in the U.S. and Canada, where audiences across the board gave it the highest PostTrak marks and an A CinemaScore. According to exit data, men accounted for 59% of opening weekend ticket buyers and 64% were over the age of 25. The sequel was primarily financed by Legendary and its production budget, previously reported to be in the $122 million range, is closer to $190 million.
91裸聊视频淚t really captured the marketplace,91裸聊视频� said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a cultural moment globally.91裸聊视频�
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Premium large format screens like IMAX and 70mm accounted for 48% of the opening weekend business. It marked a March record for IMAX, which made up $18.5 million of the overall take. Villeneuve filmed the movie using IMAX cameras. Unlike 91裸聊视频� Oppenheimer,91裸聊视频� it was shot on digital, but with the extra time with the strike delay they were able to make film prints as well and the film format is proving a popular draw for audiences.
91裸聊视频淥ur most iconic film locations are virtually sold out for weeks,91裸聊视频� said IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond.
The $81.5 million debut is also a record for its director Villeneuve, and stars Chalamet, Austin Butler and Rebecca Ferguson.
Originally planned for an October 2023 release, Warner Bros. bumped the movie to March amid the Hollywood strikes that would have prevented its starry cast from doing the promotional circuit. The global promo tour has been on hyperdrive for about a month, driving conversations with buzzy interviews, the viral sandworm-inspired popcorn bucket and eye-popping fashion moments from the stylish young cast 91裸聊视频� peaking with Zendaya91裸聊视频檚 silver cyborg showstopper (vintage Mugler) in London. They91裸聊视频檝e made stops in Mexico City, South Korea, Abu Dhabi and New York City.
91裸聊视频淲e worked very hard to be ready for that (original) date but we very much felt that, especially with this incredible cast, that it was worth waiting for,91裸聊视频� Parent said.
Goldstein added that there was 91裸聊视频渁 lot of debate91裸聊视频� over whether or not to release it during the strikes but they knew that they needed the cast to 91裸聊视频渇ully realize the movie.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淵ou don91裸聊视频檛 make movie stars any place other than theaters,91裸聊视频� Goldstein said. 91裸聊视频淐inemas, on the big screen with the big sound and that shared experience makes a big star, or show the talent of a big star anyway.91裸聊视频�
The first 91裸聊视频� Dune 91裸聊视频� opened under complicated conditions in October 2021. It was one of the last films of Warner Bros.91裸聊视频� divisive plan to simultaneously debut its major movies in theaters and on its streaming platform. And yet it still earned over $40 million in its first weekend and went on to gross over $400 million worldwide.
91裸聊视频淒enis Villeneuve is up there with Christopher Nolan as a filmmaker whose name alone inspires people to go to the movie theater,91裸聊视频� said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore.
This weekend, he added, 91裸聊视频渕oves the needle in a big way.91裸聊视频�
Going into the weekend the box office was down about 20% from the same point last year (when 91裸聊视频淎vatar: The Way of Water,91裸聊视频� a 2022 release, was lifting everything). The closest equivalent this year is 91裸聊视频淲onka,91裸聊视频� still a hit, but not as big as 91裸聊视频淎vatar 2.91裸聊视频� After the 91裸聊视频淒une91裸聊视频� weekend, the deficit will be closer to 13%.
91裸聊视频淚t shows how important one movie can be to the overall health of the industry,91裸聊视频� Dergarabedian said. 91裸聊视频淏ut this is not a one-hit wonder for March. It91裸聊视频檚 a momentum business. Now we91裸聊视频檙e going to get the wind back in the sails as we head further into March, April and the summer movie season.91裸聊视频�
Warner Bros. is one of those studios that will be back in short order with another big film, in 91裸聊视频淕odzilla x Kong91裸聊视频� at the end of March, followed by 91裸聊视频淔uriosa91裸聊视频� in May, the 91裸聊视频淏eetlejuice91裸聊视频� sequel in September and the 91裸聊视频淛oker91裸聊视频� sequel in October.
91裸聊视频淭his is our year,91裸聊视频� Goldstein said. 91裸聊视频淓xhibitors are fighting for their lives but we can be clever and collaborative with them to keep our business relevant to audiences.91裸聊视频�
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. 91裸聊视频淒une: Part Two,91裸聊视频� $81.5 million.
2. 91裸聊视频淏ob Marley: One Love,91裸聊视频� $7.4 million.
3. 91裸聊视频淥rdinary Angels,91裸聊视频� $3.9 million.
4. 91裸聊视频淢adame Web,91裸聊视频� $3.2 million.
5. 91裸聊视频淭he Chosen: Season 4, Episodes 7-8,91裸聊视频� $3.2 million.
6. 91裸聊视频淢igration, $2.5 million.
7. 91裸聊视频淒emon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba 91裸聊视频� To the Hashi,91裸聊视频� $2.1 million.
8. 91裸聊视频淲onka,91裸聊视频� $1.7 million.
9. 91裸聊视频淎rgylle,91裸聊视频� $1.4 million.
10. 91裸聊视频淭he Beekeeper,91裸聊视频� $1.1 million.
Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press
