‘Jungle Cruise’ Sets Sail With $62M Global Theatrical, Faces Choppy Overseas Waters; ‘Suicide Squad’ Slays $7M In Early Debut – International Box Office

UPDATE, writethru: In its global launch, Disney’s Jungle Cruise grossed $61.8M at worldwide turnstiles this weekend. That does not include the “over $30M” that came from Disney+ in the day-and-date streaming release (which leads to a $91.8M worldwide start as Anthony has reported). In pure theatrical terms, the Dwayne Johnson/Emily Blunt-starrer performed ahead of expectations domestically, and came in vastly lower at the international box office compared to pre-weekend estimates.

While the $27.6M international start for Jungle Cruise in 47 material markets is well below the $40M projected debut, even rivals today agree the film is facing several issues which include a changing overseas Covid landscape as well as strong local titles in some areas.

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France, for example, is still getting used to the required health pass (or negative Covid test) to gain entry to cinemas. Jungle Cruise ended up No. 2 there (behind local adventure comedy Kaamelott) with $1.7M. Where Jungle Cruise excelled was the UK with $3.2M, although that was below Warner Bros/DC’s The Suicide Squad which opened early to $4.7M there.

The latter film went out in five overseas markets this session before it adds 64 more next weekend. In total, Suicide Squad grossed $7M during this frame (see more below).

In these uncertain times it’s important to take note of the various and varying situations around the world. Disney has been extra in the barrel this week because of the Black Widow/Scarlett Johansson issue, but does that translate to overseas audiences? Probably not. There is absolutely piracy going on each time a movie appears on a premium streaming service, and that is adding to a drag on box office overall.

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As with any film legitimately available via a streaming service during the pandemic, an argument can be made that having Jungle Cruise on Disney+ in hard-hit markets like Australia provided an option for folks who are stuck at home amid renewed and/or ongoing cinema closures. Elsewhere, Korea, which is still on high alert, was a disappointment at $1.2M and faced with competition from local title Escape From Mogadishu and the holdover of Universal’s The Boss Baby 2. Disney+ does not operate in Korea.

Overall, Jungle Cruise came in 31% ahead of Disney’s own Cruella in like-for-like opening markets. Social sentiment is said to be positive indicating a shot at a long run, although South East Asia remains largely closed and Italy is introducing its own health pass requirements from August 6.

Jungle Cruise scored a No. 1 in Italy this session, along with Russia, Australia and Mexico as well as some smaller opening markets. The Top 5 were the UK ($3.2M), Russia ($2.9M), Japan ($2.1M), France ($1.7M) and Saudi Arabia ($1.4M). The IMAX overseas cume was $1.33M from 284 screens in 53 markets.

There is still no word on China dates for either Jungle Cruise or Disney/Marvel’s Black Widow which, in its fourth frame, added $7.7M from 48 markets for a $176.5M international running total and $343.6M global. The Middle Kingdom has been in blackout mode throughout July and will continue that way at least for the early part of August. It had a better run this session with Donnie Yen-starrer Raging Fire grossing an estimated $37.6M (including $2M from IMAX). Also new was romance drama Upcoming Summer with about $20.7M. The next big release in China is war epic The Battle At Lake Changjin which starts on August 12 and could, it has been suggested, reach Wolf Warrior 2 levels. The market needs a shot in the arm with box office down more than 40% across July compared to 2019.

Meanwhile, in its early overseas debut, the James Gunn-directed The Suicide Squad grossed $7M on 2,409 screens in five markets. With a strong 97% RT score, the hard R pic was tops in the UK at $4.7M, coming in 47% ahead of fellow opener Jungle Cruise and 24% above 2020’s Birds Of Prey. France debuted to $1.6M. Next weekend adds all key markets with the exception of Japan which goes August 13 (as with the earlier pics, this Suicide Squad is not poised for a China release).

Also from Warner Bros, Space Jam: A New Legacy had a good 33% drop with $8.3M from 67 markets for an offshore total of $57.9M and $118.6M worldwide after three weekends. Japan and Italy are still to come. The Top 5 so far are the UK ($8.5M), Australia ($8.1M), Mexico ($6.9M), Russia ($3.1M) and Spain ($2.7M). There’s still no word on a China release.

Universal’s F9 put another $8.1M in the tank in 60 markets (-35%) for a $473.2M international cume and $641.7M worldwide. Holds were good in Germany ($15.9M cume), France ($14.2M cume) and Brazil ($12.4M cume). Japan opens this coming frame.

Last weekend’s newcomer Old picked up $7.5M in 44 overseas markets (-35%) for an $18M overseas cume and $48.6M global. Spain had a good $1.2M opening at No. 1. Russia is the highest grosser to date at $4.2M. Korea and Japan are still to release.

With no new openings this weekend, Paramount’s Snake Eyes: GI Joe Origins added $1.2M for a 70% drop. The overseas total is $6.5M in 29% of the offshore footprint for $28.8M global. The Middle East is leading international play at $2.4M through Sunday.

In terms of what’s happening in general overseas, Australia reopened Victoria this past weekend with capacity restrictions while New South Wales (including Sydney) and Queensland are both in lockdown and rep a combined 53% of the market. Japan has extended its state of emergency to more prefectures beyond Tokyo, Mexico is on high alert in several states and Korea remains at Level 4. Germany has reopened well and while France is still struggling with confusion over the health pass, hopefully the market turns things around this week in time for the release of the summer’s most anticipated local movie, OSS 117: From Africa With Love, the third entry in the spy spoof series that stars Jean Dujardin.

MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE
The Croods: A New Age (UNI): $3.5M intl weekend (58 markets); $147M intl cume/$205.6M global
The Boss Baby: Family Business (UNI): $3.4M intl weekend (18 markets); $16.9M intl cume/$70.3M global
Spirit Untamed (UNI): $2.4M intl weekend (35 markets); $16.8M intl cume/$34.4M global
Tokyo Revengers (WB): $2.4M intl weekend (Japan only); $25.1M Japan cume
The Forever Purge (UNI): $1.4M intl weekend (39 markets); $20.8M intl cume/$63.6M global
Wrath Of Man (MIR): $1.3M intl weekend (47 markets); $75M intl cume/$102.5M global
Escape Room: Tournament Of Champions (SNY): $1.3M intl weekend (21 markets); $10.5M intl cume/$31.1M global
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (SNY): $1.1M intl weekend (32 markets); $111.3M intl cume/$151.5M global
A Quiet Place Part II (PAR): $803K intl weekend (30 markets); $134.7M intl cume/$293.5M global

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