“Spy” may not prove as big as James Bond, or even “Kingsman: The Secret Service” at the box office, but the Paul Feig-directed action comedy starring Melissa McCarthy is off to a fast start overseas.
Rolling out in 10 foreign markets ahead of its June 5 debut in North America, “Spy” took in $12.5 million this weekend for Fox. It got a big boost from South Korea, where it opened at No. 1 and took in $4.6 million, the biggest opening ever for an action comedy in that market. It also brought in $3.6 million from Australia, just six percent off the debut of another Feig-McCarthy film, “Bridesmaid.” The action comedy co-stars Jason Statham, Rose Byrne and Morena Baccarin.
Elsewhere, “Mad Max: Fury Road” rumbled to $38.2 million from 70 territories this weekend, Disney’s “Tomorrowland” debuted with $26.7 million from 66 markets and “Pitch Perfect 2” added $15.2 million from 38 territories for Universal.
But the big winner was “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” as Marvel’s superhero sequel brought in $45.8 million from 92 overseas markets this weekend, and pushed its haul in China to more than $200 million.
“Ultron” raised its overseas total to $859.8 million and its worldwide total to $1.26 billion.That puts it behind only “Fast and Furious 7,” which is nearing $1.5 billion globally, for films released this year.
With a drop of just 37 percent from its opening last weekend, “Mad Max” raised its overseas total to $124 million and its worldwide gross to $212 million.