Story on Matrix Reloaded's (international take -numbers in USD)
The Matrix Reloaded continued to make history last weekend by becoming the first movie ever to cross the century mark in a single weekend of international box office sales. The film shattered The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers' mark of $87.9m (from 27 territories) as it grossed a stunning $113.2m in 62 territories from a massive 8,924 prints. In the past year movies have become more internationally frontloaded, a trend that started in the United States with Jurassic Park: The Lost World, but not until Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone did that trend begin in the international market. That film set the benchmark for releasing movies almost immediately following the domestic premiere. Earlier this May, X2 set the benchmark even higher by releasing in 80% of the international market in its first weekend of release, but that film failed to overgross The Two Towers. The Matrix Reloaded combined a massive launch with stunning sales to top The Two Towers' mark. The Matrix Reloaded only has Egypt, the Middle East, Indonesia, Japan, India, and China left to open in.
Adding in the previous week The Matrix Reloaded has $154m in the bank already. In the UK the film grossed $19.8m from 919 prints, the fourth biggest opening of all time and the biggest "15"-rated movie ever.
In Germany Reloaded snatched $14.1m from 1,124 prints becoming the sixth biggest opening movie of all time and the top "16"-rated movie ever.
In Spain the Wachowski Brothers' sequel grossed $7m from 528 prints, which was the second biggest debut of all time behind The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
In Italy Reloaded took an astounding $6.7m from 723 prints registering the industry's biggest opening day ever and the sixth biggest opening weekend. That, in the midst of the dreadful summer season, which is a period where many people take to beaches leaving many theaters closed.
In Scandinavia a total of $6.4m was grossed over the weekend thanks to the third biggest opening weekends ever in Sweden and Norway (where it grossed $1,296,928 in five days of release). In Finland it grossed $568,543 on 56 prints in its opening weekend, which added to its Thursday premiere, totals $867,069.
The Matrix Reloaded secured the biggest opening weekend ever in South Korea thanks to a $6m start from 230 prints. The same outcome came in Russia where it grossed $3.3m from 157 prints.
In Mexico it was the second biggest weekend ever thanks to $4.9m from 530 prints.
Warner Brothers reported that The Matrix Reloaded set opening weekend records in Israel, South Africa, Portugal, the German section of Switzerland, Chile, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Bulgaria, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia, and the Ukraine.
Not only did Reloaded open well, but it also held well in its sophomore sessions abroad. In the Netherlands it dropped just 23% taking in $1,517,637 from 136 screens (two more than last weekend) for a total of $4,064,640 in just two weeks of release. In Australia Reloaded grossed another $4m in four days from 482 screens, a 46% drop, which brings its total to $13.6m. In France the film dropped just 24%, taking in $8.8m. The film dropped only 27% in Belgium and 34% in New Zealand.
With The Matrix Reloaded massive launch few titles were left any room, but a few made their name be known. In Japan where The Matrix Reloaded opens on June 7, 8 Mile second pole position with a $2.25m debut on 233 sites followed by Two Weeks Notice, which minted an estimated $1.165m from 232 screens, ranking No. 2. Down Under Phone Booth grossed a very good $900,000 considering its conservative 177-screen release over four days.
VRL Price at posting:
0.0¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
