“Jurassic World” stomped its way to $18.5 million Thursday night, as the raging reptiles took their first chomp of the box office in early shows that began at 7 p.m. in 3,229 theaters.
The sequel’s debut is Universal’s highest-grossing early show rollout ever, ahead of the $15.8 million that “Furious 7” raced to in April. IMAX theaters brought in $2.8 million, the second-largest Thursday giant-screen haul ever, behind only the $2.9 million posted by “Avengers: Age of Ultron” a month ago.
The sequel to Steven Spielberg‘s 1993 dinosaur classic will be in 4,273 theaters Friday and is aiming for the biggest June opening ever, somewhere north of the $116 million.that “Man of Steel” soared to 2013.
Directed by newcomer Colin Treverrow and starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, “Jurassic World” will also debut in 66 foreign markets on Friday, making this the widest day-and-day global opening ever for Universal Pictures.
“Jurassic World” pushed Universal Pictures International over the $2 billion mark at the global box office Wednesday, faster than any studio has ever hit the milestone.
Spielberg returns as executive producer on the $150 million sequel, which took in $17 million and opened No. 1 in China in its foreign debut, and rolled out on top in France and six other territories as well. With previews from 12 other countries added in, it brought in $24 million.