Disney “Oz the Great and Powerful” blew past the $200 million threshold at the foreign box office this weekend and is about to do the same domestically.
With this weekend's $22.2 million take from 37 foreign markets, the “Wizard of Oz” prequel has taken in $214 million overseas since opening on March 8 with nearly $80 million domestically and $70 million from abroad. Its U.S. total stands at $198.2 million, so it should go past $200 million on Monday.
Also read: 'Oz' Hasn't Made it to Emerald City Yet Despite $80M Box Office Debut
Those numbers have to be encouraging to Disney, which invested $225 million to make the film, and at least half that much to market it. That obviously raises the bar for profitability; the studio has yet to make a decision on whether to go forward with a sequel.
Sam Raimi directed the 3D special effects extravaganza, which prominently features the production design of Robert Strombeg (“Alice in Wonderland”). James Franco stars as the young wizard, with Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz as witches.
Paramount's "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," which opened with $80.3 million from 54 foreign markets, was easily the top international moneymaker for the weekend. With the $51.7 million it rolled up at North American theaters over the long Easter weekend, it's global haul is north of $132 million.
In its second week, DreamWorks Animation's 3D family film "The Croods" rolled up an impressive $52.5 million from 60 foreign markets for distributor Fox. That upped its overall foreign total to $140.5 million and its global total $229 million.
Warner Bros.' "Jack the Giant Slayer" took in $25.2 million this week, including $6.5 million from China. That ups the foreign total for "Jack," which has disappointed on the homefront with just $61 million since opening on March 1, to $96 million and its worldwide total to $157 million.