Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Red One’ Unwraps $26 Million at International Box Office, ‘Venom 3’ Nears $400 Million Globally
“Red One,” a Christmas-themed release in which Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays Santa’s head of security, didn’t have too big a bounty to unwrap in its international box office debut. The film collected just $26.6 million from 25,195 screens across 75 overseas markets over the weekend.
By comparison, “Venom: The Last Dance” added $33 million from 66 overseas markets over the same three day frame while in its third weekend of release. The third and final entry in Sony’s comic book trilogy has grossed $279.4 million overseas and $394.2 million globally to date. Though “Venom 3” has continued to draw audiences beyond opening weekend, the newest entry in the Tom Hardy-led alien symbiote saga is pacing behind its predecessors, 2018’s “Venom” ($642 million internationally and $856 million globally) and 2021’s “Let There Be Carnage” ($293 million internationally and $506 million worldwide). However, “The Last Dance” cost $120 million, a relatively economical budget compared to other comic book adaptations, so it’ll be decently positioned in its theatrical run.
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“Red One” opens on Nov. 15 at the domestic box office, where it’s projected to earn anywhere from $20 million to $40 million. The film, which is being released by Warner Bros. in overseas markets and Amazon MGM in North America, carries a gargantuan price tag of nearly $250 million and needs a long life on the big screen to justify that cost — which doesn’t include global marketing efforts. Amazon MGM, however, cares about much more than box office grosses. The tech behemoth sees theatrical releases as a way to lure top talent and generate buzz for the streaming service, Prime Video.
“Red One” started strongest in the United Kingdom, debuting in second place with $3.2 million from 902 screens. Other opening weekends included Mexico with $2.3 million, China with a soft $2 million and Spain with $1.5 million. Reviews have been mixed for “Red One,” which picks up as Saint Nick (J.K. Simmons) is kidnapped, which triggers a rescue mission led by one gruff North Pole body guard (Johnson) and an unwitting bounty hunter (Chris Evans). Jake Kasdan (“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) directed the film.
Elsewhere at the international box office, Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” is nearing the $300 million mark. Ticket sales are currently at $292.4 million worldwide, including $161.5 million overseas.
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