Transformers: Age of Extinction
June 29, 2014
Based on this weekend's returns, the Transformers aren't going to face extinction any time soon.
At the domestic box office, the fourth installment in the immensely successful franchise opened to an estimated $100 million. That's the biggest opening of the year so far ahead of Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($95 million).
More importantly, it took in over $201 million from 37 international markets. That includes a stunning $90 million in China, which is the biggest "foreign" opening ever there (and probably the biggest overall, though we don't have data to confirm that).
Overall, the movie earned over $300 million worldwide this weekend. With openings throughout Europe and Latin America on the way, Transformers: Age of Extinctionseems poised to make a run at $1 billion.
Domestically, Age of Extinction's opening ranks second all-time among Transformers movies behind 2009's Revenge of the Fallen ($108 million). That's not an apples-to-apples comparison, though: all three previous movies burned off demand by launching mid-week.
At 353 IMAX locations, Transformers earned $10.7 million (second all-time in June behind last year's Man of Steel). A 3D share is not available.
The movie's audience was 64 percent male and 58 percent were 25 years of age and over. They awarded it an "A-" CinemaScore, which is in contrast to its abysmal 17 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
All three previous Transformers movies earned over $300 million at the domestic box office. While Age of Extinction's opening is undeniably good, it does not put the movie in a position to also reach that milestone. The upcoming holiday makes it difficult to draw specific long-term projections, though it does appear that Age of Extinction is on track for anywhere from $250 to $280 million.
In a distant second place, 22 Jump Street fell 44 percent to an estimated $15.4 million. The comedy sequel has now earned $139.8 million, which is already ahead of the first movie's $138.4 million total.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 dropped 47 percent to an estimated $13.1 million. That's another weak hold for the well-reviewed sequel. To date, Dragon 2 has grossed $121.8 million, and there's a good chance it ultimately winds up below $170 million.
After opening on top last weekend, Think Like a Man Too plummeted 64 percent to an estimated $10.4 million. Through 10 days, the comedy sequel has earned $48.2 million, and is on track to earn substantially less than its predecessor ($91.5 million).
Maleficent rounded out the Top Five with $8.2 million. On Sunday, it's expected to pass $200 million. MeanwhileJersey Boys fell 43 percent to $7.6 million. The Clint Eastwood-directed musical has now grossed $27.3 million.
Jon Favreau's Chef remained in the Top 10 for the sixth-straight weekend. To date, the indie hit has earned $19.4 million.
In its ninth weekend, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 passed $200 million at the domestic box office. The movie is on pace to earn over $60 million less than its predecessor, which was already the lowest-grossing entry in the franchise.
In limited release, sci-fi action movie Snowpiercer earned $162,100 from eight locations. That translates to a solid $20,263 per-theater average. A specific expansion plan isn't available right now, though it's safe to assume that Radius-TWC will get the movie in to many more theaters in the coming weeks.
At five locations, Once director John Carney's Begin Again opened to an estimated $148,000 (average of $29,600). The movie stars Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo, and should expand significantly in the next few weeks.
Ahead of a nationwide expansion on Wednesday, Dinesh D'Souza's America (2014) took in $39,000 at three locations. D'Souza's last documentary was 2016: Obama's America, which earned a sensational $33.4 million in 2012. That was nicely timed around the presidential election, though, and it's unclear if this follow-up can connect in the same way.
Around-the-World RoundupTransformers: Age of Extinction opened to $201.3 million overseas this weekend, which ranks eighth all-time. That's more impressive considering it was only playing in 37 markets, and wasn't in any of the major markets in Europe or Latin America.
Nearly half of that opening came in China, where Age of Extinction earned a spectacular $90 million (nearly $10 million from 150 IMAX screens). The previousTransformers movie is one of the highest-grossing imports ever there, and this outing aimed to capitalize on that interest by setting the entire third act in and around Hong Kong. Ultimately, Age of Extinction is guaranteed to earn over $200 million in China, and could even wind up over $250 million.
Elsewhere, the movie had one of the biggest debuts ever in Russia with $21.7 million. It was also strong in South Korea ($21.5 million) and Australia ($10 million), and set opening weekend records in Malaysia ($6.4 million), Indonesia ($5.7 million) and Hong Kong ($4.8 million).
According to Paramount, the aggregate figure is a 35 percent improvement over the last movie. Of course, a large part of that gain can be attributed to China, so it's unlikely the rest of the markets saw much of an improvement. Still, this suggests that Dark of the Moon's $771 million overseas total is within reach for Age of Extinction. Next weekend, the movie expands in to the U.K.
With Transformers and the World Cup monopolizing attention, the rest of the market was fairly quiet. How to Train Your Dragon 2 added $17.7 million for a $106.1 million total. Maleficent earned $16 million, which brings its total to $383.7 million. Next weekend, it reaches its final market (Japan). The Fault in our Stars took in $13 million for a strong total of $85.3 million.
Finally, X-Men: Days of Future Past reached $713 million worldwide, which makes it the highest-grossing movie of the year ahead of fellow superhero movies Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
