‘Dune: Part Two’ Worldwide Opening Spicier At $182.5M With Actuals – International Box Office Update

Nancy Tartaglione
·11 min read
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MONDAY UPDATE: With Sunday actuals included, Warner Bros/Legendary Entertainment’s Dune: Part Two spiced up its global and international box office opening weekend. The offshore bow rose from yesterday’s $97M estimate to $100.02M in 71 markets. With domestic now at $82.5M through Sunday, that brings the worldwide debut to $182.5M.

This means that in like-for-like overseas markets and at today’s exchange rates, the Denis Villeneuve-directed epic sequel is tracking 81% ahead of his 2021 Dune, as well as 84% above Ready Player One, 102% higher than Godzilla Vs Kong and just 9% behind Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and 14% below Oppenheimer.

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The Top 5 markets confirmed for the weekend were the UK ($11.8M), France ($9.8M), Germany ($9.1M), Korea ($6.8M) and Australia ($5.9M).

See below for how the weekend rolled out.

PREVIOUS, SUNDAY UPDATE: Coming in ahead of projections following a strong Saturday, Warner Bros/Legendary Entertainment’s Dune: Part Two has stormed to a $178.5M global opening. Of that, $97M is from the international box office.

In like-for-like offshore markets and using today’s exchange rates, the film is tracking 76% ahead of 2021’s Dune, 79% better than Ready Player One, 96% above Godzilla Vs Kong, 12% behind Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and 16% below Oppenheimer.

While full weekend estimates fluctuated yesterday (see below), the domestic bow ultimately came in at $81.5M and overseas saw terrific play on the weekend as audiences responded like a sandworm to a thumper with 11.1M admissions. As we noted yesterday, a lot depended on how Saturday shook out, and it appears a broader demo turned up — given the nearly three-hour running time, it’s a movie that families need to carve out space for. Dune: Part Two is now expected to have playability amid a clear runway and strong word of mouth – overseas exhibitors are reporting very good audience scores.

In total this frame, the Denis Villeneuve-directed sequel opened in 71 overseas markets (China joins on March 8 and Japan on March 15), and was the No. 1 movie in 67 of those (No. 1 U.S. title in all 71).

It’s also the biggest launch of a Villneuve movie in all markets and tops for Timothée Chalamet in 58 including France, Germany, Italy, UK, Korea and Australia.

In IMAX, the film, which was shot entirely with IMAX digital cameras, grossed $32.2M globally, from 809 screens. This is the biggest IMAX global weekend ever in like-for-like markets for a Warner Bros film and the second overall behind Batman V Superman which had China, Russia and Japan in its opening suite. For the industry, Dune 2 ranks as the 7th biggest opening weekend ever for IMAX in like-for-likes.

The international IMAX portion is $13.7M, marking the best March debut ever in like-for-like markets and the biggest all-time IMAX opening in 10 markets. It was also the biggest IMAX bow ever for a WB title in 40 markets including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Korea, Scandinavia, India, Taiwan and Argentina. In South Africa, IMAX generated a whopping 50% of the box office.

Regionally, in Latin America, the film captured a 68% share of the Top 5 films. Using historical rates, this is 102% above Dune and 68% ahead of Blade Runner 2049.

In Europe, this is the biggest opening ever for Villeneuve and Chalamet. Using adjusted rates, it’s on par with the launches of Top Gun: Maverick and Oppenheimer as well as ahead of The Batman (+3%) and Dune (+61%). In Holland, PLF’s contributed 30% of the total box office with IMAX at a fantastic 16%.

For Asia, Thailand had the biggest IMAX opening weekend ever for WB and 3rd biggest for the industry. Singapore landed the biggest IMAX debut for WB.

In terms of individual markets, the UK led all play at $11.8M, good for 71% of the Top 5 films (IMAX was 18% of the take). The opening total is 62% above Dune.

France was next with $9.6M and Paris repping 31% of the total. Based on admissions, the film beat nearly all the comps including The Batman (+7%), Oppenheimer (+21%), Dune (+25%), M:I7 (+52%), Blade Runner 2049 (+126%) and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

Germany grossed $9.1M, nearly double the results of 2021’s Dune and ahead of all other comps including Jurassic World: Dominion and Oppenheimer.

Korea, where Dune 2 was facing the sophomore frame of a massive local hit in Exhuma ($43.4M cume to date), grossed $6.9M for the biggest WB opening weekend since 2018’s The Joker. Results are 123% ahead of Dune and 434% over BR 2049.

Australia gave Dune 2 a big 77% market share of the Top 10 with $6M, roughly on par with Oppenheimer as well as higher than Dune by 78% and better than most other comps. The two IMAX screens led the market ranked first and third with a combined 5.1% share.

Meanwhile, Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love grooved to another $8.8M from 56 markets, a 42% holdover drop that lifts the international cume to $63.3M and global to $146.1M. Still to open are such majors as Korea and Japan.

The Top 5 markets to date are the UK ($17.3M), France ($12.7M), Germany ($4.2M), Brazil ($4M) and Australia ($3.7M).

MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE
Madame Web (SNY): $5M intl weekend (65 markets); $50.6M intl cume/$91M global
Anyone But You (SNY):$4.4M intl weekend (49 markets); $119.3M intl cume/$207.2M global
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training (CR/SNY): $4.4M intl weekend (44 markets); $21M intl cume/$36.7M global (SNY markets)
Migration (UNI): $3.5M intl weekend (79 markets); $153.4M intl cume/$277M global
Wonka (WB): $3.3M intl weekend (62 markets); $407.9M intl cume/$624.7M global
Poor Things (DIS): $2.4M intl weekend (46 markets); $71M intl cume/$104.6M global
Argylle (UNI): $1.8M intl weekend (83 markets); $48.3M intl cume/$92.2M global
The Holdovers (UNI): $470K intl weekend (50 markets); $22.1M intl cume/$42.2M global

PREVIOUS, SATURDAY: Warner Bros/Legendary Entertainment’s Dune: Part Two continued offshore rollout on Friday, adding another 16 markets and a further $20.8M to bring the running international box office cume to $42.4M. That’s through the first three days across 71 markets total and including previews (China and Japan release later this month).

The epic Denis Villeneuve-directed sci-fi sequel is looking at a full overseas opening frame of $85M+. If the current domestic projection lands, then the global start would be just north of $160M, slightly off pre-weekend estimates but a very strong debut. There’s also wiggle room here depending on how Saturday shakes out. Premium large formats are in high demand, and there are likely people waiting until they can get to see the movie on the biggest screen possible (here in London today, every IMAX showing was sold out). Given word of mouth and a clear runway, playability is expected.

The debut will certainly come in well above Part Two’s 2021 predecessor which released in a Covid-impacted marketplace (the international start on that film in like-for-like markets, at today’s rates and including previews was $55M).

The big Part Two opener on Friday was the UK with $3.6M from 2,087 screens and at a dominant No. 1, nearly 700% higher than the No. 2 movie. The launch is higher than Villeneuve’s 2021 Dune by 187%, as well as ahead of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 by 7%, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One by 63% and Blade Runner 2049 by 109%.

In the UK, IMAX repped a terrific 19% share of the total box office on Friday.

Spain was also a new play on Friday with $1M from 1,071 screens and a 75% share of the Top 5 films. This was the biggest opening day ever for Villeneuve in the market. It also outperformed comps including Oppenheimer (+44%), Dune (+58%), Blade Runner 2 (+69%), M:I7 (+121%) and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (+194%). Including previews, the running cume in the market is $1.1M.

Overall, the Top 5 offshore markets through Friday are France ($5M), Germany ($4.1M), Korea ($3.9M — including Saturday and not reflected above, the market is at $5.5M), UK ($3.6M) and Australia ($2.5M).

We’ll have a full report on Sunday.

PREVIOUS, FRIDAY UPDATE: Dune: Part Two added 42 international box office markets on Thursday, taking the offshore cume on the Denis Villeneuve-directed sequel to $20.8M in a total 55. This includes two full-days of play and previews in those markets.

The Warner Bros/Legendary Entertainment sci-fi spectacular is the No. 1 U.S. title in all markets and will add Spain and the UK today as well as 14 smaller hubs. Domestic previews, as Anthony has noted, came in over $12M.

On Thursday overseas, the Top 5 openers were Germany, Australia, Mexico, Poland and Brazil. In Germany, where the cume including previews is $2.4M, the start captured 70% market share of the Top 10 films. The results are roughly on par with Oppenheimer and ahead of the opening day of The Batman (+65%), Dune (+81%), Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (+119%), Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (+136%) and Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 (+155%).

Australia has a $1.3M cume including previews. The opening day nabbed an 81% share of the Top 10. Similar to Germany, the take is roughly in line with Oppenheimer, and ahead of the other comps including 51% bigger than 2021’s Dune, 81% over M:I7 and 170% above Rise of the Beasts.

Mexico pulled in $696K on Thursday, a clear No. 1 with premium formats performing strongly — IMAX repped 10% of the daily total and 4D 5%. Thursday’s bow was above Dune by 85% to give Villeneuve his biggest start ever in the market.

Poland kicked off with $361K, at a clear No. 1 on a non-traditional Thursday. That makes comps tricky as Thursday releases are not common, but it is above Barbie’s extensive Thursday previews and also Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore which bowed on a Thursday.

Brazil nabbed $331K at No. 1 and four times higher than the No. 2 film. This is also Villeneuve’s biggest opening day and is roughly on par with M:I7 as well as ahead of Dune by 127%. IMAX results are great with 11% of the total box office in the market from just 1% of the screens.

The Top 5 markets overall through two days are France with $3.5M, Germany at $2.4M, Korea with $2.1M ($3.9M through Friday which is not reflected in the total above), Australia ($1.3M) and Taiwan and Italy tied at $1.1M each.

More updates to come.

PREVIOUS, THURSDAY: Warner Bros/Legendary Entertainment’s much awaited Dune: Part Two is off and storming the international box office. The Denis Villeneuve-directed sequel began its overseas rollout Wednesday in 13 markets with $5.2 million for the day as the No. 1 Hollywood film in each. Including previews, the offshore cume through yesterday is $7.6M.

Wednesday’s release markets included France, Italy and Korea. In France, the running cume is $2.3M which includes previews. The Allociné rating is an outstanding 4.5 out of 5 stars from audiences (and a fab 4.1 from critics). Including previews, the film is tracking on par with The Batman, 27% over Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, 44% ahead of Villeneuve’s 2021 Dune and 63% over Oppenheimer. Imax results are 65% ahead of Oppenheimer in terms of admissions. When including the France Tuesday previews, this start for Dune: Part Two is even bigger in Imax than Avatar: The Way of Water.

In Korea, where local film Exhuma is taking up a lot of oxygen, Dune 2 opened at No. 2 with $1.2M on Wednesday. The launch day is 108% above Dune and 385% ahead of Blade Runner 2049 as well as coming in as the biggest opening day for star Timothée Chalamet and director Villeneuve. It is the biggest Imax opening day for a WB title. Through Thursday (not included in the totals above), the movie has grossed $2.1M.

In Taiwan, Dune 2 took a 62% market share on Wednesday with $892K to track as the biggest opening day for Villeneuve and Chalamet. It performed 107% higher than Oppenheimer, 172% above The Batman and 229% bigger than Dune Part One.

Italy, which is coming back so nicely overall, gave Dune 2 a 58% share of the Top 5 Films on Wednesday — ahead of Dune by 4% and Mission: Impossible 7 by 32%. Advance ticket sales for the coming days are great and the movie has been warmly received both by critics and fans.

In Sweden, the early start was $546,000, dominating with a 74% share of the Top 5 Films. Imax repped 12% of the box office. Part Two was also above all comps.

Another 42 markets release today, Thursday, including Germany, Australia, and all of Latin America. Friday will see 16 markets open including Spain and the UK, for a total of 71 markets in release after the weekend.

We will be updating throughout.

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