Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two has been making waves in the international box office scene, with a solid offshore hold that is quickly closing in on the $500M mark globally. The overseas weekend numbers are nothing short of impressive, bringing in a total of $51.2M across 73 markets. This represents a 40% drop compared to the previous session, with the exclusion of China showing a 37% decrease. The international box office cumulative total as of Sunday stands at $289.4M, contributing to the film’s worldwide running total of $494.7M.
A closer look at the performance of Dune: Part Two in like-for-like markets reveals an interesting trend. At today’s exchange rates, the Warner Bros/Legendary Entertainment sequel is tracking a staggering 67% ahead of the 2021 Dune, showcasing a significant improvement. Furthermore, the film is outperforming other notable titles such as Transformers: Rise of the Beasts by 47%, Godzilla Vs Kong by 20%, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One by 7%, and Ready Player One and The Batman by 3%.
The international success of Dune: Part Two is evident in its performance across various markets. For instance, Japan saw a strong bow this session, generating $1.7M, which is 22% higher than the opening weekend of the first Dune installment. The film has also been making significant strides in China, where it has already surpassed the cumulative total of the original Dune in just 10 days of release. Additionally, Dune: Part Two has become the top imported film of the year in China and the biggest ever for director Denis Villeneuve and lead actor Timothée Chalamet in the Chinese market.
The third weekend drops in several key markets have been notably positive for Dune: Part Two, with impressive decreases seen in countries such as Holland, Singapore, Sweden, Germany, and Australia, among others. The film, shot in IMAX format, has been a hit with audiences, grossing $104M globally in this premium format. The international weekend total for Dune: Part Two was $11.4M, with notable contributions coming from markets like China and Japan, where IMAX screenings have been particularly successful.
In the midst of Dune: Part Two’s box office dominance, other key players are also making their mark. Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 had a strong international weekend, grossing $39.6M as it continues its staggered rollout across different markets. With significant success in China, and strong performances in new markets like Mexico, Germany, and India, Kung Fu Panda 4 is positioning itself as a formidable competitor to Dune: Part Two.
Looking ahead, both Dune: Part Two and Kung Fu Panda 4 are set to enter new markets in the coming weeks, including Brazil, Italy, and China for Kung Fu Panda 4, followed by France, Australia, the UK, and Korea for both films. The box office success of these titles in these key markets will shape their overall performance and determine their rankings in the international box office landscape. As the competition heats up, it will be interesting to see how these films fare against each other and against other upcoming releases.