The Rock’s ‘San Andreas’ Aftershocks Extend to Overseas Box Office
Earthquake epic tops its budget with $120 million globally. ”Tomorrowland“ flops in China, ”Mad Max“ rolls and ”Home“ will be in black for DreamWorks Animation
The Rock, as “San Andreas” star Dwayne Johnson was once known, may have to change his nickname to The Boulder if his new earthquake movie stays on its current roll at the worldwide box office.
Monday’s final figures show “San Andreas” brought in $64 million from roughly 60 foreign markets over the weekend, about $4 million higher than Warner Bros. had estimated Sunday. The domestic haul for the New Line action film co-financed by Village Roadshow was bigger than estimated as well, at $54.5 million, so it finished with nearly $120 million in its first weekend — or more than its $110 million production budget.
The biggest foreign territory was Mexico, where “San Andreas” set a record for largest opening ever for a disaster film with $10 million. The U.K. ($7.2 million) and Russia ($5.3 million) also delivered. Just how big “San Andreas” is going to play overseas should come into sharper focus soon.
Moviegoers’ qualms about real earthquakes didn’t seem to hurt “San Andreas” in the U.S. and Canada, and in fact 19 of the film’s top 20 locations were in California. But China, where it opens Tuesday, could be a different story. That country is much closer to Nepal, site of the devastating April earthquake that killed 8,800 people.
Opening a movie in China isn’t like going to the box-office equivalent of an ATM, despite what some in the industry may think. Just ask Disney, which has had a tough time getting “Tomorrowland” out of the gate behind the Great Wall.
So far, the Brad Bird-directed sci-fi adventure saga has taken in less than $14 million in a little under a week. To put that in perspective, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” made about $20 million more than that in its first day there, kicking off a run that has brought in $225 million so far.
No one expected “Ultron”-sized numbers from “Tomorrowland.” “Ultron was Marvel and Disney’s biggest opening day there ever, after all, and “Tomorrowland” is an original film rather than an established franchise. But the futuristic adventure starring George Clooney, Hugh Laurie and Britt Robertson has come in under expectations in just about every overseas market, just as it did in the U.S.
So far, “Tomorrowland” has taken in $70 million overseas, a little more than the $63 million it has grossed domestically. Disney had hoped for more, given the film’s $190 million budget, but it’s another example of how difficult it is to make an original property fly in the U.S. and abroad.
Another movie with a hefty price tag, “Mad Max: Fury Road,” appears on the road to profitability. It’s not a lock, however, given the film’s $150 million production budget, shared by Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow.
George Miller‘s R-rated road-rage romp starring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron has been in high gear overseas. It added $22 million in its third weekend abroad and pushed its international total to $165 million. With its $115 million domestic haul, it’s at $280 million globally. The sequel’s biggest markets have been Korea, with a very strong $23 million, and the U.K. ($21 million).
“Home,” the DreamWorks Animation family film that Fox is distributing, added $3.8 million over the weekend to lift its overseas haul to just under $200 million. “Home,” voiced by Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Jim Parsons and Steve Martin, has taken in $170 million domestically. That puts its total global grosses at roughly $370 million.
The animated film’s production budget was $135 million and marketing costs were comparable. So with returns from home video and pay TV still to come, the tale of a very friendly alien invader is clearly headed for profitability.
That’s reason for the restructuring studio to celebrate, since “Home” will be DWA’s only 2015 release.
Party Report in Pictures: Paul Wesley, Gwen Stefani, 50 Cent, George Clooney, Kerry Washington, Julia Roberts, (Updating Photos)
Rumor Willis and Val Chmerkovskiy got the celebratory Bar Mitzvah treatment upon wining "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC (but taped at the CBS lot) on Tuesday night.
Adam Taylor ABC for Getty Images.jpg
Meanwhile over at the Marriott in Marina del Rey, it was standing room only for the world premiere of "French Kiss", the hotel chain's second immersive short film from its new studio arm - the Marriott Content Studio.
Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images
Paula Patton and Jamie Kennedy walked the carpet for "French Kiss" downstairs, as Taryn Manning had a front row seat near Camryn Manheim at the rooftop screening.
Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images
In Beverly Hills, "The Comeback" teammates Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King campaigned for the Emmy contender at the Paley Center.
Kevin Parry/Paley Center for Media
"Super Saturday," a major fashion sale/fundraiser at Barker Hangar welcomed power couple Curtis Stone and Lindsay Price on May 16.
OCRF
Jiff the Pomeranian has been on the rounds, fronting with one of the Chryslers that shuttled in talent like Rachel Zoe and Molly Sims to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund moneymaker.
OCRF
Odette and Dave Annable went hands on with a non-Jif.
OCRF
Digging in the racks...fashion pro Louise Roe.
OCRF
Google and Disney Junior wrangled female elected officials in D.C. for "Miles from Tomorrowland", encouraging girls to engage in S.T.E.M. coursework. The lineup at Google's D.C. offices included Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, Nancy Kanter, Dr. Yvonne Cagle, Sascha Paladino, and Congresswoman and Susan Brooks.
Disney Jr. / Fred Watkins
The Seattle International Film Festival rolled out the red carpet for Paul Feig and his "Spy" on the opening night. The long festival continues through June 7.
SIFF
Over the weekend, women rocked Hollywood on Saturday night, as Paul Wesley and pals came out for animals, and celebs descended on Vegas for the Billboard awards.
John Shearer/Jonathan Leibson; Getty Images; TWC
Sia (in the wig) opened with "Elastic Heart" and closed with "Chandelier" at a fundraiser for the LA LGBT center at the Palladium on Saturday night.
John Shearer/Jonathan Leibson
Kat Graham and Victoria Justice in the audience for Sia and No Doubt.
John Shearer
No Doubt drew stodgy sitters out of their seats and to the stage for their acoustic set, closing with "I'm Just a Girl" - appropriate as the LGBT center focuses on women, girls, and 2,000+ homeless LGBT youth.
John Shearer/Jonathan Leibson
Sarah Silverman, who attended with Michael Sheen, kissed Fortune Feimster.
John Shearer/Jonathan Leibson
The muscle behind the night, co-chairs Brent Bolthouse and Linda Perry in their native environment: backstage.
John Shearer/Getty Images
Before "Mad Men's" finale on Sunday night, Kiernan Shipka sat in with Jessica Stroup at the Evening With Women.
John Shearer
Backstage, Silverman, Sia, and Gwen Stefani hung with event founder Linda Perry (2nd from left).
John Shearer/Jonathan Leibson
Meanwhile in Vegas, Rita Ora and 50 Cent's Billboard presenting stint was tied to their roles in "Southpaw", ripped Jake Gyllenhaal's upcoming boxing drama.
Getty Images
""If I have any sort of voice in this world to help and protect, (I will) do what I can to help these animals survive,” Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting said backstage at the Humane Society of the U.S. benefit on Saturday night. Paul Wesley and Tricia Helfer posed with Kaley.
Michael Kovac/Getty Images
After a vegan dinner, Cloris Leachman presented a lifetime achievement award to Ed Asner.
Jason Kempin
After debuting his latest documentary at the TCL Chinese on Friday, Nas headed to a Hennessy bash at Hooray Henry's on Beverly, where he performed "Made You Look" and "The World Is Yours."
Hennessy
Playboy CCO Jimmy Jellinek named Dani Mathers, a 28-year-old from Playboy's own backyard in Tarzana, Playmate of the Year at a lunch at the Holmby Hills mansion on Thursday.
Charley Gallay/Getty Images
Mathers has appeared in "The Bold and the Beautiful" and a bit part in "Furious Seven". She gets $100,000, a cover issue, and a lease on a Mini Cooper.
Charley Gallay/Getty Images
Speaking of Cooper....Hugh Hefner's son Cooper Hefner, who appropriately lives on Silicon Beach as he runs Playboy.com, has assumed managerial duties. Scarlett Byrne (right) played in the "Harry Potter" franchise.
Charley Gallay/Getty Images
Later on Thursday, Jamie Foxx revealed his role as "camp counselor" by taking some campers from Paul Newman's SeriousFun Children's Network out to Dave and Buster's before the gala at the Dolby Theatre.
Mike Windle/Getty Images
Danny DeVito said "I"m not Paul Newman" when he came out on stage. He was just one of the gang.
Mike Windle/Getty Images
Meanwhile in Beverly Hills, "Dancing with the Stars'" Alfonso Ribeiro, Candace Cameron Bure, Tony Dovolani, Erin Andrews, Bruno Tonioli, Kym Johnson, and EP Rob Wade did a Paley Center panel night.
Kevin Parry for Paley Center for Media
New York rules the week with TV upfronts as the springboard for parties across the city.
Getty Images/NBC/Omega
"Scandal's" headliners Bellamy Young, Tony Goldwyn, and Kerry Washington chatted up the "shocking season 4 finale" at the Paley Center in NYC on Thursday,
The Paley Center for Media
It has been a week of Paley, as Kerry Washington greeted Cicely Tyson on the way in to Cipriani Wall St. on Wednesday night.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
They were there for the Paley Center's tribute to African American Achievements in TV.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
The next night at Cip's, Kate Walsh and Eli Manning put their pearlies in for the Operation Smile benefit.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Operation Smile
More hugs up in midtown, as Julia Roberts got her varisty letter-man jacket on for her final appearance on Wednesday night's show.
Getty Images
Eric Stonestreet cozied up to margarita millionaire Bethenny Frankel at CAA's upfront party at Dirty French on the lower east.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CAA
Chace Crawford, Leslie Ann Brandt, and a grey Dave Annable, also at CAA.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CAA
"The 100's" Lindsey Morgan and action star Glen Powell.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CAA
CAA Brotherhood: Zach Braff, Neil Patrick Harris, and Kevin Huvane on Monday night.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CAA
Jane Lynch is fired up to be on CBS -- new network!
Timothy Kuratek/CBS
Eva Longoria and Debra Messing only planned to match their poses, not their dresses, at Bob Greenblatt's party at Mario Batali's Del Posto.
Paul Drinkwater/NBC
Sharon Stone should be in Cannes for amfAR by next week, but this week she was at Bob Gersh's party (center) with Patricia Heaton at the Gansevoort.
Jemal Countess/Getty Images
After Lee Daniels was the star of Fox's upfront, he got toasted again as the Family Equality Council's honoree at the Night at the Pier. Bruce Cohen, Liam Daniels, Daniels, Jahil Fisher, and Billy Hopkins surround the man of the week.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Fellow Fox'er Darren Criss performed at the Night at the Pier.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Lee Daniels plants a smooch on Liam Daniels.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Lea Michele, Co-Chairmen and CEOs of Fox TV Dana Walden and Gary Newman, and Jamie Lee Curtis (who got a big crowd pop) launched Fox's new lineup at The Stone Rose.
Frank Micelotta/FOX
Tone Bell from the new "People Are Talking" hung with Brent Morin, Chris D'Elia, and Zach Braff at the NBC party.
Paul Drinkwater/NBC
Clooney is not a TV guy anymore. Also, those A-list ad campaigns are not just for foreign markets anymore. Clooney did an appearance for Omega watches in Houston on Tuesday night.
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for OMEGA
Back in LA, Quincy Jones awarded David Guetta at the PTTOW marketing conference.
PTTOW
Demi Moore, Melanie Griffith, and Alana Stewart came out for Bryan Fox's new photo exhibit, a star packed Saturday night downtown.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Bryan Fox
Martin Starr, a hungry Malin Akerman, and fellow "Silicon Valley" star Thomas Middleditch avoided cannibalism at the London in West Hollywood on May 7.
Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Bleecker Street
Jay Leno cracked jokes about Walmart and Ikea making caskets at CASA of Los Angeles’ "Evening to Foster Dreams" event at the Beverly Hilton on Tuesday night.
Todd Williamson/Getty Images
A Calypso St. Barth event in Brentwood hosted Emmy contender Robin Wright on Saturday afternoon. SHe has a lnie called Pour Les Femmes.
Michael Simon/StarTraks
The night before his new album dropped, Snoop Dogg teamed with his producer Pharrell to perform a 23 song private set at the I Heart Media space in Burbank.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Big Boy hosted the event, sporting the numbers and sign of his new radio home, 92.3, L.A.'s biggest radio personality news of the year.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
1 of 54
TheWrap’s weekly gallery of the scene inside and backstage the best bashes of the week from The Party Report’s Mikey Glazer
Rumor Willis and Val Chmerkovskiy got the celebratory Bar Mitzvah treatment upon wining "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC (but taped at the CBS lot) on Tuesday night.