MUMBAI: Beowulf, the epic adventure from Academy Award winner Robert Zemeckis, has topped the worldwide box office both in the U.S. and internationally.
The Shangri-La Entertainment presentation, in association with ImageMovers Productions, was released domestically by Paramount Pictures in association with Shangri-La Entertainment and is being distributed internationally by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The film, featuring Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman and Angelina Jolie, earned $27.5 million in 3,153 theaters in the U.S. to claim the number one spot. In the widest U.S. release to date in Digital 3D, Beowulf grabbed roughly 40% of its estimated weekend gross from 740 Digital 3D screens, and 13% from 84 IMAX 3D screens. Beowulf represents Zemeckis’ third highest domestic opening after What Lies Beneath and Castaway.
Opening day-and-date with the U.S. in select markets, the epic adventure swept across Asia and some European markets, earning an estimated $17.3 million in its opening weekend, with nearly 2.4 million admissions from approximately 2,500 prints. International audiences responded to the Digital 3D experience, generating nearly $3 million from 156 IMAX 3D and digital 3D screens.
The film conquered virtually every Asian market, opening to the number one position in Korea (KRW 3.4b/US$3.8m), including the highest ever results for a 3D release (US$ 661k). In Taiwan, Beowulf took in nearly 75% share of the top 5 films, and dominating the market with an excellent NT$ 28.7 million (US$890k) nationwide. Thailand likewise was swept up in the experience, opening at the first spot with a 76% share of the top five films in the market, grossing Baht 25m (US$756k). Beowulf also generated best openings in Hong Kong (HK$4.3m/US$546k), Malaysia (RM 1.24m/US$373k), Indonesia (RP 3.1m /US$341k) and Singapore (S$811k/US$538k), and earned Php 29m (US$675k) in the Philippines.
Based on the first ever published writing in the English language, Beowulf stormed across Europe, earning 2.2m pounds Sterling (US$4.5m) in the UK, euro 1.48m (US$2.2m) in Italy, and euro 1.45m (US$2.1m) in Germany. In Austria, the film ranked #1, earning an estimated euro 247k (US$319k) on its opening weekend.
In the coming weeks, Zemeckis’ vision for an all-new Beowulf will be unleashed in France, Belgium (21 November), Russia, Holland (22 November), Spain, Mexico (23 November), Australia (29 November), Brazil (30 November) and Japan (1 December).
