The movie is tanking in the US, thanks to dismal reviews, but it had a $46M opening day in China, the best-ever midweek opening box-office in Chinese film history.
China is also a major market for the World of Warcraft MMORPG.
That number is only through 10 p.m. on Wednesday, so it could grow as late show results are tabulated. Some analysts believe that “Warcraft” could haul $150 million in its first five days of release in China.
It’s also been a boon to Imax. The wide screen company racked up a record $5.3 million in ticket sales, surpassing the previous high-water mark set by “Furious 7” with $4.7 million.
Legendary backed the film, which is facing fierce headwinds at the domestic box office and needs a lift from foreign audiences. It opens Friday in North America, where it’s projected to pull in $25 million, a weak result for a picture with an $160 million budget and tens of millions more spent on advertising. Universal is distributing the film in most of the world, save for China, where China Film Group and Huaxia are handling the rollout.
Box Office: ‘Warcraft’ Opens to Massive $46 Million in China
[Brent Lang/Variety]
(via IO9)
(Image: Warcraft: Orcs & Humans
[Cutefloor Gaming]