Opens: May 23
The Wolfpack reunites for the third (and supposedly final) film of the franchise. Returning to Las Vegas, Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) get into all kinds of trouble as they try to find Alan treatment for his mental issues and rescue their kidnapped friend Doug (Justin Bartha).
A crowded weekend at the international box office saw Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures’ The Hangover Part III claiming the spoils as it made its first major foreign push, grossing $82.3 million from 54 markets for an early foreign total of $110.7 million.
The film’s offshore performance is helping to make up for a lackluster showing in North America, where the final installment in Todd Phillips‘ R-rated franchise took in $15.9 million in its second weekend for a domestic total of $88.1 million, compared to $185.5 million for The Hangover Part II.
BOX OFFICE REPORT: Will Smith’s ‘After Earth’ Loses to ‘Now You See Me’ in Major Misstep
All told, the film has now earned $198.9 million worldwide, fueled by its overseas showing. Highlights include Germany, where the threequel grossed $15 million, the biggest opening of the year and the top opening of all time for an American comedy, pacing 28 percent ahead of Hangover II.
Hangover III took in $9.3 million as it opened in Russia, claiming the No. 1 spot and coming in more than 100 percent ahead of Hangover II. In France, the comedy grossed $6.6 million, 24 percent ahead of the sequel.
In the three holdover markets where it opened last weekend, the threequel saw strong results, especially in the U.K., where it grossed $4.5 million to place No. 1.
Warner Bros. and Legendary are hopeful that the comedy will match the $332.3 million earned by Hangover II internationally, but the goal remains a question mark.
Universal’s Fast & Furious 6 placed No. 2 internationally with $75 million from 63 markets, pushing the pic’s international total to a glowing $310.2 million and worldwide haul to $480.6 million. The action film scored a record opening in New Zealand with $1.3 million and $436,000 in Trinidad.
Fast 6 held well against the onslaught of Hangover III, remaining No. 1 in Latin America and Asia. Within a month, it’s expected to surpass the $416 million earned by Fast 5 at the foreign box office. Remaining major markets where it has yet to open include Australia, Japan and China.
In North America, Fast 6 easily stayed at No. 1 in its second weekend, grossing $34.5 million for a domestic total of $170.2 million. And worldwide, it was No. 1 for the weekend with total grosses of $105.9 million, versus $98.2 million for Hangover III.
Paramount’s Star Trek Into Darkness also fared well as it continued to expand overseas, grossing $37.6 million from 44 markets for an international total of $147.4 million, the best showing ever for the sci-fi franchise, which has never been as popular overseas. The film, directed by J.J. Abrams, has earned $328.6 million worldwide and has yet to open in Japan, Brazil, France, Italy and Spain.
THR COVER: The Uncensored Oral History of ‘The Hangover’
Fox’s 3D family animated pic Epic placed No. 4 overseas, grossing a solid $28.5 million from 57 markets for a foreign total of $86.3 million and worldwide cume of $151.6 million.
Epic was followed by Baz Luhrmann‘s The Great Gatsby, from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures. The adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s iconic novel grossed $22.6 million from 56 markets for an international total of $120 million, almost on par with the film’s domestic total of $128.3 million.
Weekend highlights included a $6.7 million opening in Australia, Luhrmann’s home country, and a $1.9 million opening in Mexico, Lurhmann’s highest showing. Gatsby opens in Japan on June 14.
Box office observers believe that Gatsby will ultimately match the $195 million grossed internationally by Sex and the City 2.
