‘F9’ Races to $162 Million Opening Overseas as Global

Universal’s “F9” has now earned the very best world opening weekend for a Hollywood movie for the reason that begin of the pandemic, grossing $162 million from Eight markets this weekend together with $135 million in China.

That makes the “Fast & Furious” franchise the sixth in field workplace historical past to achieve $6 billion in lifetime grosses, largely off of a launch in China that got here with essentially the most expansive advertising marketing campaign for a “F&F” movie ever within the nation that yielded the second-highest Chinese opening ever for Universal. Only “The Fate of the Furious” in 2017 earned the next opening with $184.9 million.

During the pandemic, a couple of Hollywood movies opened in China, posting modest theatrical runs. Among them was Disney/Pixar’s “Soul” with $58 million and Warner Bros.’ “Tenet” with $66 million. But “F9” has not solely doubled the overall Chinese runs of these movies however has additionally change into the primary Hollywood movie since “Avengers: Endgame” two years in the past to publish a $100 million-plus opening within the nation.

Along with China, the movie earned $9.9 million in Korea, $6.2 million within the Middle East, $8.2 million in Russia and $2.four million in Hong Kong; totals which might be all the very best for his or her respective markets for the reason that begin of the pandemic. The movie’s complete additionally contains $12.four million from IMAX, which is the second-highest complete ever for the format from a May launch. The solely May launch with the next IMAX complete is “Captain America: Civil War,” which was launched in 26 extra international locations than “F9” on its opening weekend.

While this begin nonetheless leaves “F9” with a protracted path to achieve $1 billion worldwide, Universal is hoping that different international locations could have recovered sufficient from COVID-19 that theater restrictions will loosen by the point the movie expands in June. The movie is ready for a U.S. launch on June 25 and shall be launched in main European territories in early July.