‘Shazam! Fury Of The Gods’ Strikes Out With $66M Global Bow – International Box Office

UPDATE, writethru: New Line/DC/Warner Bros’ Shazam! Fury of the Gods has had a less than heroic launch with $65.5M global, including $35M from the international box office. We always knew this sequel was going to come in lower than its predecessor, but the result is also far off where projections were ahead of the weekend.

Overall, the main issue on Shazam 2 appears to be a disconnect with hardcore DC fans, and, when it comes to China, an increasingly cold-shoulder approach of audiences to Hollywood fare. Fury of the Gods was simply a no-show in the PRC with a slight $4.4M weekend. Despite getting a day-and-date release there, moviegoers did not turn up for Shazam 2 (in the heady days of 2019, the first movie bowed to nearly $30M). This is part of a concerning trend in the world’s second biggest box office market where (outside of Avatar) folks have shied away from Hollywood titles. Interestingly, Shazam 2 has an 8.8 audience score on Maoyan whereas the first movie ended with a 7.9. On Douban, it had a higher score going into the frame than the original, but is now tied with it at 6.2 from critics.

More from Deadline

Families did turn out in higher numbers over the weekend in some markets, but it wasn’t enough to jump out. Mexico gave Shazam 2 a No. 1 start at $4M (-32% versus the first movie). The UK debuted to $3M at No. 1, 39% below the previous installment; Indonesia ($1.6M), Brazil ($1.6M) and Australia ($1.6M) all follow.

As Anthony has noted with regard to the light domestic debut, you can’t fault Warner distribution for doing their jobs: They protected Shazam 2, getting it away from Avatar: The Way of Water so that it could have access to premium screens. The IMAX launch was good for $5.1M worldwide, including $2.5M from overseas.

On a more positive note, and also from WB, Creed III is nearing $100M overseas, punching up a further $12M from 75 markets for a 50% drop in the third weekend. The offshore cume is $96.6M, global is $224.3M. Japan is still due on May 26. The Top 5 markets are France ($15M), UK ($14.1M), Germany ($9.5M), Mexico ($7.3M) and Italy ($6.8M).

In its sophomore frame, Paramount’s Scream VI added $11.3M in 53 markets for a solid 46% drop. The offshore cume is $40M with global at $116M.

France continued its strong run, dipping by 40% for a $6M cume. The UK has grossed $6.3M to date. The next best running total is in Mexico with $3.6M, followed by Australia at $3.4M and Brazil with $3.2M.

In other news, Avatar: The Way of Water crossed $2.303B globally, the third movie ever to reach the number. The international cume is $1.625B.

In local play, China was led by holdovers Post Truth ($18.4M weekend/$51M cume) and Revival ($22.2M cume). In Korea, Japanese animation Suzume was tops again, now with a $15.7M running total, and juggernaut The First Slam Dunk reached $32.6M.

MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE

65 (SNY): $5.1M intl weekend (54 markets); $16.4M intl cume
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (DIS): $3.3M intl weekend (52 markets); $256.8M intl cume/$462.6M global
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (UNI): $2.95M intl weekend (81 markets); $288M intl cume/$471M global
M3GAN (UNI): $1.76M intl weekend (78 markets); $80M intl cume/$175.1M global
Cocaine Bear (UNI): $1.73M intl weekend (58 markets); $16.5M intl cume/$75M global
Tar (UNI): $1M intl weekend (49 markets); $17.2M intl cume/$24M global
Champions (UNI): $300K intl weekend (3 markets); $1.5M intl cume/$12.1M global

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.