GLOBAL REPORT: ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Dominates Overseas Box Office in $239.7M Global Debut

Fifty Shades of Grey scored the biggest overseas opening weekend of 2015 with $158 million from 9,637 locations in 58 territories. The strong performance overseas gives the film an opening weekend of $239.7 million worldwide. Saturday brought in $55.1 million overseas alone, Universal’s biggest single day gross outside of North America. Universal’s previous single-day record holder overseas was Fast & Furious 6 with a $46.2 million tally. Fifty Shades of Grey fell just shy of hitting Universal’s biggest ever overseas weekend; Fast & Furious 6 still holds the title with $160.3 million.

Fifty Shades did score major records in individual territories. Argentina, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine and Uruguay are all reporting the film reigstered the biggest opening weekend of all time across their respective markets. The film is claiming the biggest opening weekend record across a total of 30 territories.

Individual market highlights include:

United Kingdom – #1 with $21.1M at 586 locations. Biggest opening weekend of all time for Universal. Biggest February opening of all time.

France – #1 with $12M at 785 locations. Biggest opening weekend of all time for Universal.

Germany – #1 with $15.2M at 741 locations. Biggest February opening of all time.

Italy – #1 with $9.1M at 530 locations. Biggest opening weekend of all time for Universal.

Russia – #1 with $10.5M at 1,105 locations. Biggest opening weekend of all time for Universal.

Spain – #1 with $7.9M at 398 locations. Biggest February opening of all time.

Argentina – #1 with $3.8M at 162 locations. Biggest opening weekend of all time.

Brazil – #1 with $8.9M at 550 locations. Biggest Universal opening weekend of all time.

Mexico – #1 with $8.1M at 667 locations.

Australia – #1 with $8.6M at 277 locations. Biggest February opening weekend of all time.

New Zealand – #1 with $1.1M at 90 locations. Biggest February opening weekend of all time.

Philippines – #1 with $2.2M at 85 locations.

Kingsman: The Secret Service brought in $23.1 million from 4,859 screens in 38 markets. Strong starts in South Korea ($5.4M) and Russia ($3.6M) and solid holds in the UK ($2.4M, -28%) and Australia ($2.4M, -28%) are the weekend’s bright spots as the film reaches $43.8 million outside of North America. Kingsman has grossed $79.4 million globally. The film expands to 24 additional markets next weekend.

Jupiter Ascending grossed $15.6 million from 8,195 screens in 65 markets. The sci-fi epic has now grossed $58.9 million overseas and $91.4 million worldwide. Russia took $1.8 million from 1,704 screens in its latest frame, taking the market total to $7.5 million. Other top market cumes include France ($4.7M), UK ($4.2M), Germany ($3.5M), Brazil ($3.5M), and Mexico ($3.2M).

The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water soaked up $13.5 million from 4,206 locations in 29 territories. Russia enjoyed a #2 debut with $3.1 million at 900 sites. The film has grossed a total of $46.3 million overseas. The latest Spongebob movie has grossed $139.9 million worldwide with more key markets –including France, South Korea, Germany, Italy, the UK, and Australia– left on its schedule.

Big Hero 6 crossed the $300 million mark overseas and is now the third highest-grossing Disney Animation title of all-time, behind The Lion King and Frozen. The film opened in France this weekend to $3.1 million (including previews) and brought in a total of $9.2 million from 32 territories. Big Hero 6 has grossed a total of $301.8 million overseas and $521.1 million worldwide. Japan leads all overseas markets with a $70.2 million cume, followed by Russia ($20.2M), South Korea ($17.9M), Australia ($17.2M), and Mexico ($17M).

Taken 3 collected $7.1 million from 3,473 screens in 50 markets. Italy opened to $952k as the film hit $192 million overseas. Taken 3 has grossed $278.8 million worldwide and has the potential to cross the $300 million mark with a March 20 release in China.

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb earned $6.7 million from 1,985 screens in 23 markets. The final installment in the franchise is now up to $223 million overseas and $334 million worldwide.

Penguins of Madagascar grossed $4.1 million from 1,259 screens in 21 markets. Venezuela opened to $1.5 million while Taiwan took a $471k debut. The animated film has grossed $267 million overseas and $349.3 million globally.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies took $3.9 million from 1,922 screens in 20 markets, bringing the overseas cume to $697 million. The film is now the highest grossing WB title of all time in China with $122.1 million. Other top market totals include Germany ($79.2M), UK ($64.2M), France ($45.9M), and Russia ($30.3M).

American Sniper crossed the $300 million mark in North America this weekend. The film is still grossing overseas and brought in $3.7 million from 1,540 screens in 31 markets over the weekend. The overseas total is now $85.7 million with upcoming releases in France (February 18), Brazil and Mexico (February 19), Spain (February 20), Japan (February 21), and Germany (February 26). Top overseas markets include Italy ($22.9M), UK ($18.2M), Australia ($13.1M), Taiwan ($4.1M), and South Korea ($2.6M). American Sniper has grossed $389.8 million worldwide.

The Theory of Everything made $3.4 million from 41 territories, taking its overseas cume up to $65.1 million. The biopic has grossed a total of $98.5 million worldwide.

Birdman brought in $2.5 million from 1,350 screens in 39 markets. The film’s overseas cume is up to $35.7 million with an additional 12 markets left on its schedule. Birdman has grossed $72.1 million worldwide.