Box Office: ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ Delivers Largest December Animated Opening

Racking up award nominations, Sony’s ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ lands the largest three-day animated opening of all-time in the month of December with a $35.4 million domestic bow.

Voted the best animated feature by the Los Angeles and New York Film Critics, ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ employs a groundbreaking visual style that’s the first of its kind.

Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse ruled the box office this past weekend with the largest-ever December debut for an animated feature film. This marks the 13th time this year that the top weekend box office film was adapted from a Marvel Comics property.

Finishing in first place, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse made $35.4 million for what is now the largest three-day animated opening of all-time in the month of December. Illumination Entertainment’s Sing previously held that record with its $35.2 million opening in December 2016.

Internationally, Spider-Verse earned $21 million from 44 overseas markets, led by $3.3 million in South Korea, $2.9 million in the U.K., and $2.3 million each in Russia and Australia. The film, which has made $56.4 million worldwide to date, will debut in additional 11 markets next weekend, including China and Spain.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse received almost universally positive reviews heading into the weekend and earned an A+ CinemaScore from opening day audiences. Garnering a Golden Globe nomination and seven nominations for ASIFA Hollywood’s upcoming Annie Awards, the film is also making waves on the awards circuit, with both the L.A. Film Critics Association and New York Film Critics Online naming it the year’s best animated feature.

Created by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the creative minds behind The LEGO Movie and 21 Jump Street, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is directed by Peter Ramsey & Rodney Rothman from a script written by Lord. Employing a groundbreaking visual style that’s the first of its kind, the film introduces Brooklyn teen Miles Morales, and the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse, where more than one can wear the mask.

Sony is already planning both a sequel and a spinoff for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The sequel will be directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, while Lauren Montgomery is in negotiations to helm the female-led spinoff.

(Box office numbers obtained via Box Office Mojo)

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

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.