Legend of Tarzan Sunday Int’l Box Office Report — $18.8M as Staggered Rollout Begins

Deadline is the first with a reasonably comprehensive international box office report for Legend of Tarzan.

THE LEGEND OF TARZAN
Swinging into 19 international markets, the David Yates-directed spin on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic creation snatched $18.8M on about 6,700 screens. It’s got an A- CinemaScore in North America where it

is opening at $38.1M. The offshore rollout is staggered to take advantage of the competitive landscape and surrounding the ongoing Euro Cup soccer tournament (although with England’s surprise knockout out last weekend, anyone who purposely stayed out of the UK this weekend has to be bummed). The main cast for Tarzan was set for UK press ahead of next frame’s bow there, with Alexander Skarsgard headed to Scandinavia and a key push later in Beijing.Tarzan was given a plum July 19 release date out of the Middle Kingdom. Peculiar given the typical July blackout on Hollywood imports, but also not a slam dunk either given there will be a bevy of Chinese movies in the market by that time.

Back to this weekend. Tarzan predictably topped Russian box office with 44% of the Top 5 at $3M. The action/CGI lends itself to Russian audiences, but the opening is only on par with the launch of Snow White And The Huntsman and 35% above Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes. That film’s sequel, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, fared much better in Russia with a $9.8M start in 2014.

Similarly, in Korea, Skarsgard’s turn as a thinking man’s Tarzan grossed $4M from 600 screens. This is currently a crowded market with two local pics, Familyhood andThe Hunt both performing strongly. Tarzan landed No. 2. It should be noted that Disney’s The Jungle Book, which has grossed upwards of $18M here, is still in Korean theaters. On 122 offshore IMAX screens, thet total is $1.2M.

Elsewhere on Tarzan, Asia had No. 1 openings in India, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Without going into detail, WB says Tarzan opened No. 1 in the majority of Eastern European markets and Puerto Rico. Next weekend, more heavy-hitters come along including the UK, France, Australia and Mexico.

This is generally good news but the staggered release makes it harder to judge.   I’m a little disappointed in the Russia numbers.  The number 1 openings in the Asian and East European territories is a good thing.   But I think we have to stay tuned on the foreign …. looks promising, but early days yet.