Blockbuster Success: Deadpool & Wolverine Cross $1B, It Ends With Us Debuts Strong

Columbia Pictures/Wayfarer Studios’ It Ends With Us, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s 2016 romance novel, proved especially powerful in North America, with an estimated $50.0m debut. For international, the Sony release began with an estimated $30.0m from 41 markets, led by UK/Irealnd with an estimated $5.7m – and knocking Deadpool & Wolverine off the top of the box office.

European collectively delivered an estimated $13.5m, including $1.0m apiece from Sweden and the Netherlands.

Latin America accounted for an estimated $7.8m, led by top markets Brazil ($3.4m) and Mexico ($2.5m).

Asia-Pacific contributed an estimated $6.6m, led by Australia with a very strong $4.7m. The Middle East added a handy $2.1m, with $802,000 for UAE and $671,000 in Saudi Arabia. The film did not achieve release in Qatar due to content involving kissing and a non-graphic intimate scene. (It Ends With Us is rated PG-13 in the US.)

With a production budget reported at $25m, It Ends With Us could soon head into profit, even factoring in marketing costs and revenue splits with cinemas. Markets yet to open include France, Germany, Austria, Colombia and Thailand (all opening this coming week), Italy (August 21), China and Taiwan (both August 30), with Singapore, South Korea and Japan to follow.

The film opened 44% ahead of 2014’s The Fault In Our Stars in international markets opened so far and 50% ahead of The Girl On The Train (not adjusted for inflation). Those two literary adaptations respectively reached $307.2m and $173.2m lifetime at the worldwide box office.

Directed by Justin Baldoni from a screenplay by Christy Hall, It Ends With Us stars Blake Lively as a woman forced by events to recalibrate her relationship with a neurosurgeon (Baldoni), reconnecting with a friend from her past (Brandon Sklenar).

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ hits $1bn after three weekends
Estimated third-weekend takings of $112.0m pushed Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine to a $1.03bn worldwide total, becoming the 11th Marvel Cinematic Universe film (including two for Sony) to achieve the $1bn feat.

So far, 55 films have hit $1bn worldwide, and Disney is home to 31 of them (including three Fox titles pre-acquisition).

‘Borderlands’ stumbles with $16.5m debut
Despite an intriguing cast including Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart and Jack Black, Eli Roth’s Borderlands underwhelmed with an estimated $8.8m North American opening for Lionsgate, plus $7.7m from 73 international markets. Those numbers combine for a $16.5m debut, only enough for 10th place in Comscore’s latest worldwide weekend chart.

There are three Chinese films, two of which are so far released in China only, that rank higher than Borderlands in the latest worldwide chart: Successor and new releases Upstream and White Snake: Afloat.

For international, Borderlands’ top markets so far are UK/Ireland (an estimated $1.05m) and France ($982,000), ahead of Australia ($325,000), Spain ($300,000) and Netherlands ($278,000).

‘Twisters’ hits $300m milestone as ‘Despicable Me 4’ passes $800m
UPDATED: Twisters added another $19.1m (estimated) at the weekend, pushing the tornado film past $300m, for a total to date of $310.1m. However, the film – distributed by Universal in North America and Warner Bros overseas – still has a long way to go to match the $494.6m achieved by the original Twister in 1996, and these numbers are not adjusted for inflation.

Illumination’s Despicable Me 4 added a confirmed $27.4m, pushing the animated adventure through $800m, for an $807.9m total.

The sequel has overtaken 2010’s original Despicable Me ($543.3m lifetime worldwide), but currently ranks behind the other two Despicable Me films and both Minions films. Universal will be hoping for a steady sustain for Despicable Me 4 through to the end of the summer holiday.

Conclusion:
The box office race continues to heat up, with both It Ends With Us and Deadpool & Wolverine performing well. Twisters has also seen a boost, reaching the $300m milestone. Meanwhile, Borderlands has underperformed, finishing in 10th place.

FAQs:
Q: What is the estimated weekend box office for It Ends With Us and Deadpool & Wolverine?
A: It Ends With Us has an estimated $80m opening in North America, while Deadpool & Wolverine takes in an estimated $112m globally.

Q: Which films are among the top 10 at the weekend box office?
A: The top 10 includes It Ends With Us, Deadpool & Wolverine, Despicable Me 4, Successor, Upstream, Inside Out 2, Twisters, White Snake: Afloat, Trap, and Borderlands.