Criticized at home in the U.S. as “one of the most disappointing releases in the company's history,” DreamWorks Animation’s “Rise of the Guardians” rises to the top overseas.
Criticized at home in the U.S. as “one of the most disappointing releases in the company's history,” DreamWorks Animation’s Rise of the Guardians rose to the top overseas, bringing in $26.2 million this past weekend from 57 markets.
The computer-animated film remained in first place in a handful of major territories, according to Box Office Mojo, including France ($3 million), the U.K. ($2.6 million), Italy ($2.5 million) and Mexico ($2.2 million). Set to expand into Australia this coming weekend, Guardians has earned a worldwide total of $90.9 million to date.
Meanwhile, Ang Lee’s Life of Pi is doing impressive business overseas, adding $23.3 million from 14 markets, only slightly lower than last weekend’s $24.4 million gross. In China, the 3D stereoscopic film rose six percent to $14.6 million for a new total of $68.3 million. Life of Pi also added $2.3 million in Taiwan, $2.1 million in Spain and $1.3 million in India. The film has already earned $104.6 million overseas, and is still yet to open in nearly all of Europe and Latin America.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 added $22.6 million this weekend for a new total of $482.9 million, becoming the highest-grossing Twilight movie on both an overseas and a worldwide basis (over $750 million) ahead of Breaking Dawn Part 1.
International sensation Skyfall grossed roughly $20 million from 84 international territories this weekend. In Australia the film took first place for the third-straight week with $4.8 million, bringing its total to a record-breaking $33.5 million. In the U.K., Skyfall is now the highest-grossing movie ever with $154.5 million.
Other notable titles this weekend include Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph, which brought in $5.8 million for an international gross of $51.1 million; Sony’s Hotel Transylvania, which made $4 million for an overseas total of $158.1 million; and Cloud Atlas, which brought in $1.6 million for a total of $36.3 million.
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
