‘Ford V Ferrari’ Revs Up $52M+ Worldwide Bow; No China Halo For ‘Charlie’s Angels’ – International Box Office

Nancy Tartaglione

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UPDATE, writethru: Fox/Chernin Entertainment’s Ford V Ferrari raced its way to a $21.4M start at the international box office this weekend. The Disney release went out in 41 material markets and came in slightly above pre-frame projections. This is a solid start that combines with domestic’s high-octane debut to make for a $52.4M global bow.

Key here is that this is seen as a marathon, and not a sprint. There is more play to come on the James Mangold-directed drama that is expected to have strong legs. The awards season contender is generating positive critical and social sentiment and was No. 1 in such markets as Italy, Mexico, Australia and Russia. Still to bow are Korea, Japan and China (the latter not yet dated) along with a handful of others.

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Overall in like-for-like hubs, FVF came in 73% ahead of Rush, 33% above Bridge Of Spies and 8% ahead of Sully.

Disney’s President of theatrical distribution, Cathleen Taff, tells Deadline of the inherited Fox title, “We’ve always loved this film and are thrilled to see that it’s breaking out. We knew it was going to be something special and the thing we’re most thrilled about is that audiences all over are reacting positively. It proves there’s an appetite for these kind of films on the big screen.”

Ahead of the weekend, we noted that FVF would play best in Europe, which proved to be the case, while Taff says things are “so far so good” in South East Asia where the Christian Bale/Matt Damon-starrer is coming in above expectations. Korea in December, and Japan in January will be markets to watch.

In IMAX, FVF grossed. $5.5M globally.

The other newcomer overseas was Sony’s franchise reboot of Charlie’s Angels, which landed with $19.3M in 26 markets, slightly below what we were hearing was expected ahead of the weekend. The global debut is $27.9M. It’s tracking 4% over Pitch Perfect 3 and 45% ahead of Atomic Blonde, though the girls have Anna and Elsa in their path next weekend and will sit out releasing any new hubs during that frame.

The $48M-budgeted Elizabeth Banks-helmed pic, hardly blessed domestically, took No. 1 positions in its South East Asian and Middle East openings, and has several majors still to come. But it was not embraced in China where the launch session is just $7.7M with a 6.1 Douban and an 8 Maoyan score. Local pic Somewhere Winter was the top movie in a tepid Middle Kingdom that also saw a strong showing for Giuseppe Tornatore’s 1998 The Legend Of 1900.

Warner Bros/Village Roadshow/Bron Studios’ Joker, which became the first R-rated movie to cross $1B worldwide on Friday, has lifted its overseas cume to $634M and global to $1.017B with a finish likely around the $1.05B mark.

In general offshore, it was another sleepy session before Frozen 2 ices everything around it next weekend. It will be playing on 1,332 IMAX screens in 53 markets, including China.

Breakdowns on the films above and more have been updated below.

NEW
FORD V FERRARI
20th Century Fox/Chernin Entertainment’s Ford V Ferrari came off the starting block in 41 material overseas markets this weekend with a $21.4M opening that’s just north of expectations. The global launch is $52.4M.

Disney has had a soft spot for this film since it was inherited in the Fox merger, and is looking forward to a long run overseas with some key markets still to come.

This is a marathon, not a sprint, goes the refrain, as positive word of mouth spreads on the James Mangold-directed pic. There were No. 1 openings in Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, Australia and Hong Kong. FVF came in as the top non-local title in France where it’s known as Le Mans 66. Roman Polanski’s Dreyfus Affair drama, An Officer And A Spy, was No. 1 by about 32K admissions.

In like-for-likes at today’s rates, FVF did 73% better than Rush, 33% above Bridge Of Spies and 8% over Sully. Ultimately Rush ($65M international final unadjusted) naturally had its best performance in the UK, followed by Italy, Japan, Germany and Austria; Bridge Of Spies ($93.2M overseas cume) did best in Italy, the UK, Spain, France and Japan; and the Top 5 on Sully ($115.7M offshore total) were Japan, Australia, the UK, China and France.

Korea and Japan are the key majors still to come on FVF while the top markets so far are Russia ($3.2M), the UK ($2.3M), France ($2.3M), Australia ($1.7M) and Italy ($1.3M).

CHARLIE’S ANGELS
Anthony has detailed all the reasons why Sony’s franchise reboot fell from grace domestically this weekend, and though the film is faring just slightly better overseas, legs are going to be challenging given the arrival of Frozen 2 in the coming frame which will occupy female audiences.`

The Elizabeth Banks-directed pic opened to $19.3M in 26 markets. That tracks 4% over Pitch Perfect 3, 45% ahead of Atomic Blonde and 47% bigger than The Hustle at current exchange rates in like-for-like markets.

South East Asia showed up for the action and Kristen Stewart, as did the Middle East. But China didn’t fall for the Angels with just a $7.7M weekend coming off of weak Douban (6.1) and Maoyan (8) scores.

There are several major markets still to come which will contribute some extra cash on the $48M budgeted pic, including the UK, Spain, France, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Japan and Korea.

The Top 5 hubs this session were China ($7.7M), Indonesia ($2.9M), Australia ($1.3M), Russia ($1M) and Philippines ($1M).

HOLDOVERS/EXPANSIONS
Still laughing it up, Joker did a $13M jig this session in 79 markets. That is another great hold of just -39% and lifts the international running cume to $694M. Globally, Joker is now holding $1.017B in cards and will likely get up to around $1.05B. Incredible.

The Top 5 offshore markets to date are the UK ($70M), Mexico ($43.2M), Japan ($43M), France ($42.7M) and Germany ($37.8M).

MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL
In the 5th weekend, Disney’s sequel is still holding nicely, grossing $11.8M this frame for $353M overseas. Globally, $459M makes the sorceress the the No. 13 worldwide release of 2019, soon moving up to the 12th spot.

The original Maleficent did $382M internationally at current exchange rates, putting Mistress of Evil $30M shy of that total. The film has already passed its predecessor in China, France, Korea, Brazil, Russia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Netherlands, Malaysia, Argentina, Poland and India.

Top 5 markets are China ($48.8M), Russia ($33M), Mexico ($23.6M), France ($19M) and Brazil ($18.5M).

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE
Disney’s release of the Paramount/Skydance/Fox title added $10.6M in 53 markets this session. The international cume is $176.8M for $233.7M global in a disappointing performance. However, the movie held its No. 1 position in Japan during the sophomore session which has become the No. 3 market on the movie at $12.1M. China (which Tencent is releasing) is at $49M.

LAST CHRISTMAS
Universal’s holiday comedy romance added 11 markets this session for $8.6M from 21 so far. The like-for-like debuts are 11% above Me Before You and 25% ahead of Yesterday. The international cume is $13M to date for $35.5M global. The UK naturally led play with a $3.4M No. 1 start. This was director Paul Feig’s second best Friday bow, fractionally behind Bridesmaids. The Emilia Clarke-starrer also outpaced Ford V Ferrari which was a new opener. In the UK, Last Christmas is tracking in line with The Fault In Our Stars and ahead of other comps. Germany was a No. 2 bow with $1.58M on par with TFIOS, Yesterday and The Intern.

Australia was the top hold with $3.2M to date and a solid 25% drop in weekend 3. There is plenty of overseas play to come with France, Brazil, Spain, Russia, Korea, Mexico, Japan and Italy counterprogramming through late December.

MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLES
The Addams Family (UNI): $7.5M intl weekend ($5.9M from 40 U markets); $74.1M combined intl cume ($168.8M global)
Midway (LG/AGC): $5.28M intl weekend (36 markets); $38.2M intl cume ($73.3M global)
Doctor Sleep (WB): $5.2M intl weekend (71 markets); $28.8M intel cume ($53.8M global)
Zombieland: Double Tap (SNY): $4.2M intl weekend (51 markets); $40.7M intl cume ($105.5M global
Abominable (UNI): $2.5M intl weekend (57 markets); $111.8M intl cume ($171.6M global)
Hustlers (STX): $2.16M intl weekend 53 markets); $43.8M intl cume ($148.5M global)
It Chapter Two (WB): $2.1M intl weekend (Japan only); $255M intl cume ($466.4M global)
Countdown (STX): $1.63M intl weekend (5 markets); $7.27M intl cume ($31.7M global)
Gemini Man (PAR): $1.5M intl weekend (50 markets); $121.8M intl cume ($170.1M global)
The Good Liar (WB): $1.5M intl weekend (12 markets); $3.9M intl cume ($9.6M global)
Playing With Fire (PAR): $1.3M intl weekend (11 markets); $4.5M intl cume ($30M global)
Dora And The Lost City Of Gold (PAR): $1.2M intl weekend (11 markets); $57.5M intl cume ($118M global)
Downton Abbey (UNI): $500K intl weekend (25 markets); $87.4M intl cume ($183.6M global)

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