https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Bz6iTX2Bmwi\/<\/p>\n
LOS ANGELES \u2014 If there was any doubt that the 2019 box office belonged to the Walt Disney Co., this weekend put an end to it. Not only did its photorealistic remake of \u201cThe Lion King\u201d devour opening weekend records for the month of July and PG-rated films, but \u201cAvengers: Endgame\u201d also crept past \u201cAvatar\u201d to become the highest-grossing film of all time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Lion King\u201d this weekend roared into 4,725 North American theatres, where it grossed a stunning $185 million, according to studio estimates on Sunday. Although reviews were mixed for Jon Favreau’s remake of the 1994 animated film, audiences still turned out in droves to hear the A-list voice cast, from Beyonce to Donald Glover, and see the innovative technology that made the film possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve had a spectacular run this weekend,\u201d said Cathleen Taff, Disney’s president of distribution. \u201cWe really did know we had something special with (\u201cThe Lion King\u201d) given its popularity with fans of all ages.\u201d<\/p>\n
Industry experts had pegged \u201cThe Lion King\u201d for a $150 million opening, which turned out to be far too modest a projection. Instead, with $185 million, Disney got a few records to boast about: It’s the ninth-biggest opening of all time, a July record (unseating \u201cHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2\u201d), and a PG-rating record (taking over from \u201cThe Incredibles 2\u201d).<\/p>\n
It’s the second time this year a beloved Disney brand has overwhelmed a tepid critical response. \u201cAladdin,\u201d which is still in the top 10 after nine weeks in theatres, has made $989 million globally.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertain brands have so much goodwill and equity,\u201d said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. \u201cReviews clearly didn’t matter at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
And, having opened in China a week early, \u201cThe Lion King\u201d has amassed over $531 million in just 10 days. Audiences also embraced large format and 3D for the event film: 36% of that total came from 3D showings and $25.2 million from IMAX.<\/p>\n
This is just the latest in a long string of wins for Disney, which now holds five of the top six spots for the year. It’s evident even in this weekend’s charts. Five weeks in, \u201cToy Story 4\u201d is still at No. 3 with an additional $14.6 million (behind \u201cSpider-Man: Far From Home,\u201d which slipped to second in its third weekend with $21 million). The Pixar sequel has grossed $859.4 million globally. \u201cAladdin\u201d is in 7th place, with $3.8 million.<\/p>\n
And then there is \u201cAvengers: Endgame,\u201d which didn’t make the top 10, but that hardly matters. With $1.5 million globally added this weekend, it surpassed \u201cAvatar’s\u201d all-time record, not accounting for inflation.<\/p>\n
\u201cAvatar\u201d grossed $2.789 billion worldwide, and \u201cAvengers: Endgame\u201d is currently at $2.79 billion.<\/p>\n
\u201c’Endgame’ finally did it,\u201d Taff said. \u201cIt’s a huge achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige previewed that this was a sure-thing Saturday night at San Diego Comic-Con.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to shout-out to Mr. James Cameron, who held that title for a long time,\u201d Feige said. \u201cIf you adjust for inflation, he still holds the title, and he’ll probably get the title again as soon as he puts out another movie. But for right now … ‘Avengers: Endgame’ is the biggest film of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n
This weekend helped knock the year-to-date deficit from 9.1% to 7.2%.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s what a massive Disney debut will do for the box office,\u201d Dergarabedian said. \u201cYou’ve got to give some credit to the holdovers that are doing quite well, like ‘Yesterday.’ But it’s just a great weekend for the industry and absolutely a shot in the arm that was needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Comscore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.<\/p>\n
1.\u201dThe Lion King,\u201d $185 million ($269.4 million international).<\/p>\n
2.\u201dSpider-Man: Far From Home,\u201d $21 million ($37.2 million international).<\/p>\n
3.\u201dToy Story 4,\u201d $14.6 million ($25.8 million international).<\/p>\n
4.\u201dCrawl,\u201d $6 million ($2.7 million international).<\/p>\n
5.\u201dYesterday,\u201d $5.1 million ($4.3 million international).<\/p>\n
6.\u201dStuber,\u201d $4 million ($1.1 million international).<\/p>\n
7.\u201dAladdin,\u201d $3.8 million ($9.2 million international).<\/p>\n
8.\u201dAnnabelle Comes Home,\u201d $2.7 million ($7.4 million international).<\/p>\n
9.\u201dMidsommar,\u201d $1.6 million ($584,000 international).<\/p>\n
10.\u201dThe Secret Life of Pets 2,\u201d $1.5 million ($6.7 million international).<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theatres (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Comscore:<\/p>\n
1.\u201dThe Lion King,\u201d $269.4 million.<\/p>\n
2.\u201dLooking Up,\u201d $37.6 million.<\/p>\n
3.\u201dSpider-Man: Far From Home,\u201d $37.2 million.<\/p>\n
4.\u201dToy Story 4,\u201d $25.8 million.<\/p>\n
5.\u201dWhite Storm 2: The Drug Lords,\u201d $15.7 million.<\/p>\n
6.\u201dAladdin,\u201d $9.2 million.<\/p>\n
7.\u201dAnnabelle Comes Home,\u201d $7.4 million.<\/p>\n
8.\u201dThe Secret Life of Pets 2,\u201d $6.7 million.<\/p>\n
9.\u201dYesterday,\u201d $4.3 million.<\/p>\n
10.\u201dCrawl,\u201d $2.7 million.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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