Image: Producer Ram Bergman, director Rian Johnson and actors Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill pose for pictures as they arrive for the China premiere of ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ at the Shanghai Disney Resort in Shanghai, China, December 20, 2017. REUTERS/Aly Song
By Dave McNary
(Variety.com) – Disney-Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is showing plenty of force at multiplexes worldwide with $745.4 million globally as of Sunday.
The North American take has hit $365 million in its first 10 days as of Sunday with the studio projecting another $32 million on Christmas Day on Monday – making it the third highest domestic release in 2017 following “Beauty and the Beast” with $504 million and “Wonder Woman” at $412 million.
“Stars Wars: The Last Jedi” has totaled $380.3 million in international box office. It is already the top-grossing film of 2017 in both Denmark and Sweden and the fourth highest grosser in the overall European market. The U.K. is the top market with $67.4 million, followed by Germany with $40 million, France with $29.3 million and Australia with $26.9 million.
“The Last Jedi,” which picks up following the events of 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” is so far the 87th highest worldwide grosser of all time, trailing 2016’s “Suicide Squad” by $1.4 million. Rian Johnson directed with Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong’o and Domhnall Gleeson reprising their roles. It’s the final screen role for Fisher, who died a year ago.
Sony’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” and Universal’s “Pitch Perfect 3” have also opened solidly while Fox’s “The Greatest Showman” is drawing respectably at the domestic box office. But moviegoers are showing little interest in Paramount’s “Downsizing” and Warner Bros.-Alcon’s “Father Figures.”
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” opened with the second-largest North American launch ever in its first weekend with $220 million. It faced competition for the first time on Dec. 20, with Sony’s action comedy “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” which is leading the rest of the pack with $34 million at 3,765 sites for Friday-Sunday and a six-day total of around $64 million.
Josh Greenstein, Sony’s president of worldwide marketing and distribution, pointed to the A- CinemaScore as an indication that “Jumanji” is attracting all demographics. “We have incredible momentum as we go into the biggest moviegoing week of the year,” he added.
“Jumanji” also opened solidly with $49.5 million in 53 international markets, finishing ahead of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” in 28 territories. Its top performance came in the U.K. with a second-place finish at $10.1 million including previews.
Universal’s “Pitch Perfect 3” took in $20.5 million at 3,447 theaters and is on track for $27 million by the end of the four-day period. The threequel brought back the Bellas singing group with Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp and Hana Mae Lee reprising their roles. “Pitch Perfect 3″also opened with $9.8 million in 14 international markets.
Hugh Jackman’s “The Greatest Showman,” a musical take on circus founder P.T. Barnum, grossed $8.6 million at 3,006 venues during Friday-Sunday. The movie, produced by Chernin Entertainment, opened on Dec. 20 and is on track to take in about $18 million in its first six days.
“Downsizing” took in a quiet $4.6 million at 2,558 theaters in its Friday-Sunday debut and should finish four-day frame with $6.2 million. Paramount paid $65 million for the near-future comedy in which Matt Damon agrees to be shrunk to five inches in exchange for a better life. Audiences were unimpressed, giving the film a C CinemaScore.
“Father Figures” grossed a tepid $3.2 million at 3,902 theaters during Friday-Sunday and should add about $1 million on Monday. The film follows brothers – played by Owen Wilson and Ed Helms – who set out to find their biological father.
“The Post,” directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, dazzled with $495,000 at nine sites for Friday-Sunday. Fox will go wide with the journalism drama on Jan. 12.
