'Detective Pikachu' Delivers Record Opening for a Video Game Adaptation as 'Endgame' Tops $700M
Disney's Avengers: Endgame dipped a little more than expected for the three-day, but it was still able to capture the weekend's top spot, holding off a record start for a video game adaptation from WB's Pokemon: Detective Pikachu. Meanwhile, UA Releasing's The Hustle lived up to expectations, but STX and eOne's Poms and Disney's release of the Fox Searchlight drama Tolkien both struggled in their debuts over this Mother's Day weekend.
With an estimated $63 million, Avengers: Endgame topped the weekend box office for the third straight weekend in a row for a domestic cume that now stands at $723.5 million. Endgame is only the third film ever to top $700 million domestically as it topped Black Panther to become the third highest grossing domestic release of all-time.
Internationally, Endgame added another $102.3 million for an international cume that now stands at $1.76 billion and a global tally reaching $2.485 billion. The film remains the second highest grossing international and worldwide release ever, trailing Avatar both categories, though by just $302 million worldwide and $265 million internationally in what could end up a very tight race.
Finishing in second is WB's Detective Pikachu with an estimated $58 million. The adaptation of the 2016 video game of the same name, which itself was based on the popular Pokemon franchise, delivered what is now the largest opening weekend for a video game adaptation ever, topping 2001's Lara Croft Tomb Raider ($47.7m). Not only that, opening weekend audiences liked the film to the tune of an "A-" CinemaScore, which is only the sixth time a video game adaptation has scored anything higher than a "B". In fact, three of the previous "A-" CinemaScores went to WB's three previous Pokemon films and the other two "A-" scores went to Mortal Kombat and Rampage.
Looking ahead, should Detective Pikachu follow in the footsteps of previous video game adaptations, we're probably looking at a domestic run anywhere from $145-165 million. Outside that range on the high end, films such as Hitman, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life and Prince of Persia delivered 3x multiples, which would mean a domestic run closer to $175 million, but a performance closer to the likes of Rampage and The Angry Birds Movie seems a little more reasonable at this point, which would suggest a domestic run topping $160 million. However you look at it, we're talking about a film that will soon become the highest grossing video game adaptation of all-time domestically as it has already entered the top ten after just three days in release.
Internationally, Detective Pikachu delivered an estimated $103 million this weekend for a running overseas cume that now totals $112.4 million after opening in Japan last weekend where it has brought in nearly $13 million so far. The film's international performance is led by this weekend's opening in China where it has already brought in nearly $41 million. Additional openings include UK ($6.6m), Germany ($5.0m), Mexico ($4.97m), France ($4.8m), Australia ($3.5m), Korea ($3.2m), Italy ($2.8m), Spain ($2.2m), Indonesia ($2.14m) and Taiwan ($2.06m). The next major market release is Russia where the film will open on May 16.
UA Releasing's The Hustle finished in third with an estimated $13.5 million, which is just ahead of expectations for the comedy remake starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson. Opening day audiences gave the film a "B" CinemaScore while 72% of the crowd was female and 66% were under 35 years old.
Internationally, the film debuted in 36 locations with an estimated $13.7 million led by a $2.4 million opening in Russia. Additional openings include Germany ($1.8m), Australia ($1.8m) and the UK ($1.5m). Looking ahead, the film will open in Mexico on June 28 followed by July openings in France and Brazil.
Sony's The Intruder held on better than expected for a fourth place finish after dipping just -39% in its second weekend for a $6.6 million three-day. The film's domestic total now tops $21 million after ten days in release.
Rounding out the top five is Lionsgate's Long Shot, which also held on better than expected with an estimated $6.1 million three-day, dropping -37% in its second weekend. The romantic comedy has now grossed just shy of $20 million domestically.
Falling outside the top five is eOne and STXfilms's Poms, which debuted in 2,750 locations and could only manage an estimated $5.1 million. This is the second disappointment in as many weeks for STX, which saw their animated feature UglyDolls disappoint last weekend. Poms received a "B+" CinemaScore from opening day audiences and saw females make up 75% of the opening weekend crowd while 85% of the weekend audience was aged 25 or older.
Landing just inside the top ten is Disney's release of Tolkien, which was previously scheduled for a limited release this weekend rather than a wide, and, unfortunately it was unable to live up to its theater count. The film debuted in 1,495 locations and could only manage an estimated $2.15 million. This includes both $240k from Thursday's previews as well as grosses from Tuesday's Fathom event. Overall the film's per theater average is a disappointing $1,419.
In limited release, Fox International's Student of the Year 2 brought in an estimated $438,000 from 190 locations ($2,305 PTA); Neon's Biggest Little Farm debuted with $101,012 from five theaters for a chart-topping $20,202 per theater average; Sony Classics opened All is True in four theaters with an estimated $46,809 ($11,702 PTA); IFC's Charlie Says brought in an estimated $39,114 from 39 locations ($1,003 PTA); and Cohen Media's My Son opened with $4,484 from three theaters ($1,495 PTA).
Next weekend sees the release of the hotly anticipated John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum in 3,600+ locations along with Universal's A Dog's Journey in 3,200 theaters and WB's The Sun is Also a Star in over 2,100 theaters.
You can check out all of this weekend's estimated results right here and we'll be updating our charts with weekend actuals on Monday afternoon.
Discuss this story with fellow Box Office Mojo fans on Facebook. On Twitter, follow us at @boxofficemojo.
With an estimated $63 million, Avengers: Endgame topped the weekend box office for the third straight weekend in a row for a domestic cume that now stands at $723.5 million. Endgame is only the third film ever to top $700 million domestically as it topped Black Panther to become the third highest grossing domestic release of all-time.
Internationally, Endgame added another $102.3 million for an international cume that now stands at $1.76 billion and a global tally reaching $2.485 billion. The film remains the second highest grossing international and worldwide release ever, trailing Avatar both categories, though by just $302 million worldwide and $265 million internationally in what could end up a very tight race.
Finishing in second is WB's Detective Pikachu with an estimated $58 million. The adaptation of the 2016 video game of the same name, which itself was based on the popular Pokemon franchise, delivered what is now the largest opening weekend for a video game adaptation ever, topping 2001's Lara Croft Tomb Raider ($47.7m). Not only that, opening weekend audiences liked the film to the tune of an "A-" CinemaScore, which is only the sixth time a video game adaptation has scored anything higher than a "B". In fact, three of the previous "A-" CinemaScores went to WB's three previous Pokemon films and the other two "A-" scores went to Mortal Kombat and Rampage.
Looking ahead, should Detective Pikachu follow in the footsteps of previous video game adaptations, we're probably looking at a domestic run anywhere from $145-165 million. Outside that range on the high end, films such as Hitman, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life and Prince of Persia delivered 3x multiples, which would mean a domestic run closer to $175 million, but a performance closer to the likes of Rampage and The Angry Birds Movie seems a little more reasonable at this point, which would suggest a domestic run topping $160 million. However you look at it, we're talking about a film that will soon become the highest grossing video game adaptation of all-time domestically as it has already entered the top ten after just three days in release.
Internationally, Detective Pikachu delivered an estimated $103 million this weekend for a running overseas cume that now totals $112.4 million after opening in Japan last weekend where it has brought in nearly $13 million so far. The film's international performance is led by this weekend's opening in China where it has already brought in nearly $41 million. Additional openings include UK ($6.6m), Germany ($5.0m), Mexico ($4.97m), France ($4.8m), Australia ($3.5m), Korea ($3.2m), Italy ($2.8m), Spain ($2.2m), Indonesia ($2.14m) and Taiwan ($2.06m). The next major market release is Russia where the film will open on May 16.
UA Releasing's The Hustle finished in third with an estimated $13.5 million, which is just ahead of expectations for the comedy remake starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson. Opening day audiences gave the film a "B" CinemaScore while 72% of the crowd was female and 66% were under 35 years old.
Internationally, the film debuted in 36 locations with an estimated $13.7 million led by a $2.4 million opening in Russia. Additional openings include Germany ($1.8m), Australia ($1.8m) and the UK ($1.5m). Looking ahead, the film will open in Mexico on June 28 followed by July openings in France and Brazil.
Sony's The Intruder held on better than expected for a fourth place finish after dipping just -39% in its second weekend for a $6.6 million three-day. The film's domestic total now tops $21 million after ten days in release.
Rounding out the top five is Lionsgate's Long Shot, which also held on better than expected with an estimated $6.1 million three-day, dropping -37% in its second weekend. The romantic comedy has now grossed just shy of $20 million domestically.
Falling outside the top five is eOne and STXfilms's Poms, which debuted in 2,750 locations and could only manage an estimated $5.1 million. This is the second disappointment in as many weeks for STX, which saw their animated feature UglyDolls disappoint last weekend. Poms received a "B+" CinemaScore from opening day audiences and saw females make up 75% of the opening weekend crowd while 85% of the weekend audience was aged 25 or older.
Landing just inside the top ten is Disney's release of Tolkien, which was previously scheduled for a limited release this weekend rather than a wide, and, unfortunately it was unable to live up to its theater count. The film debuted in 1,495 locations and could only manage an estimated $2.15 million. This includes both $240k from Thursday's previews as well as grosses from Tuesday's Fathom event. Overall the film's per theater average is a disappointing $1,419.
In limited release, Fox International's Student of the Year 2 brought in an estimated $438,000 from 190 locations ($2,305 PTA); Neon's Biggest Little Farm debuted with $101,012 from five theaters for a chart-topping $20,202 per theater average; Sony Classics opened All is True in four theaters with an estimated $46,809 ($11,702 PTA); IFC's Charlie Says brought in an estimated $39,114 from 39 locations ($1,003 PTA); and Cohen Media's My Son opened with $4,484 from three theaters ($1,495 PTA).
Next weekend sees the release of the hotly anticipated John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum in 3,600+ locations along with Universal's A Dog's Journey in 3,200 theaters and WB's The Sun is Also a Star in over 2,100 theaters.
You can check out all of this weekend's estimated results right here and we'll be updating our charts with weekend actuals on Monday afternoon.
Discuss this story with fellow Box Office Mojo fans on Facebook. On Twitter, follow us at @boxofficemojo.
