Breaking Global Box Office: Black Phone 2 & Tron Ares Deep Dive

The global cinematic landscape is buzzing with fresh figures as new releases and ongoing hits carve out their space. From a terrifying horror sequel to a visually stunning sci-fi epic and a critically acclaimed drama, recent global box office reports offer compelling insights into audience preferences and market dynamics worldwide. This week’s highlights reveal Universal’s Black Phone 2 making an impressive debut, Disney’s Tron: Ares navigating its sophomore session, and Warner Bros.’ One Battle After Another continuing its strong run.

Black Phone 2 Dialing Up Global Success

Blumhouse’s latest horror offering, Black Phone 2, has successfully terrorized audiences, opening to a robust $42 million globally. This chilling sequel, directed by Scott Derrickson and starring Ethan Hawke as the menacing Grabber, saw a significant portion of its earnings, $15.5 million, come from international territories. This strong overseas performance from 71 markets notably surpassed the international launch of its predecessor, The Black Phone, as well as comparable horror titles like Sinners and Weapons in the same regions. The film’s $30 million production budget (up from the original’s $18 million) appears well on its way to being justified.

Mexico led the international charge for Black Phone 2, delivering a formidable $4.3 million. It claimed the No. 1 spot for the weekend with an impressive 58% market share. Brazil also emerged as a standout, contributing $1.2 million, boosted by cooler, rainy weather that encouraged cinemagoing. The film ranked as the clear top title in Brazil, outperforming the first film, Smile 2, Weapons, and Sinners. The UK & Ireland brought in $1.48 million, securing the No. 2 position locally and exceeding the original film’s UK opening by 19%. Rounding out the top international markets were Australia with $908K and France with $569K, notably marking Blumhouse’s first 16-rated release in the French market. With upcoming releases planned for Germany, Spain, Korea, and Japan, Black Phone 2 is poised for further international growth, signaling a promising rebound for Blumhouse.

Tron: Ares Navigates Second Weekend Challenges

Disney’s highly anticipated sci-fi sequel, Tron: Ares, completed its second international weekend with an additional $14.1 million from 52 markets. This brought its overseas cumulative total to $48.4 million, pushing its global box office to $103 million through Sunday, trailing slightly behind its $54.6 million domestic haul. The film’s performance, particularly given its likely substantial budget, suggests it faces an uphill battle for profitability.

A key market to watch was China, where Tron: Ares debuted with a modest $2.8 million. While it managed to be the top non-local title, slightly edging out One Battle After Another, the overall figure highlights the challenges foreign films sometimes face in the Middle Kingdom. Despite this, the film secured the No. 1 position in several smaller markets and was No. 2 in significant territories like Australia, Brazil, and Mexico. After two weekends, its top five international markets include:
Mexico ($4.9M)
UK ($4.3M)
France ($3.3M)
China ($2.8M)
Germany ($2.7M)

One Battle After Another Maintains Strong Hold

Paul Thomas Anderson’s critically acclaimed drama, One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.), demonstrated exceptional staying power in international film markets. It recorded an impressive 38% drop, adding another $11.8 million from 78 overseas territories. This solid performance pushed its offshore cumulative total past the century mark, reaching $100.6 million through today, bringing its worldwide earnings to $162.5 million.

The film’s ability to maintain strong interest reflects its critical buzz and unique storytelling. Its top five international markets include:
UK ($13M)
France ($10.1M)
Germany ($7.7M)
Italy ($5.2M)
Australia ($4.6M)

These figures underscore the film’s broad appeal beyond North America, particularly in European markets where art house cinema often finds a dedicated audience.

Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie Delights Younger Audiences

Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie is quietly building a strong international following. Expanding into the UK and Spain this session, it now plays in 60 overseas markets. The animated feature added $6.8 million over the weekend, raising its international cumulative total to $28.2 million. This figure notably surpasses the performance of Captain Underpants on a like-for-like basis.

The UK & Ireland market provided a robust No. 1 start with $2.3 million. This success was partly driven by strong “Purrsday” previews and benefiting from school holidays in Scotland. Spain also saw a No. 1 debut with $1 million. The movie’s openings in these regions are comparable to animated hits like Bad Guys films and exceeded Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie and Sonic 3 in respective markets. With a Japan release slated for March next year, Gabby’s Dollhouse is set to continue its charming run with family audiences globally.

Broader Industry Trends and Insights

The latest global box office results offer a snapshot of diverse audience appetites. The strong opening of Black Phone 2 highlights the continued demand for well-executed horror, particularly in a sequel that manages to build on its predecessor’s success. The genre’s relatively lower production costs often translate to healthier profit margins, even with modest overall grosses.

Conversely, Tron: Ares‘s journey illustrates the challenges faced by high-budget studio blockbusters in securing runaway success, especially when early market debuts are softer than anticipated. Its IMAX performance, however, points to the enduring value of premium large formats for spectacle films. The consistent hold of One Battle After Another reinforces the power of critical acclaim and word-of-mouth in driving long-term theatrical performance for quality dramas, even without the massive opening weekends of genre films. Meanwhile, Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie demonstrates the resilience and profitability of well-loved children’s IP in international markets, often benefiting from strategic holiday releases.

These varied performances paint a picture of an evolving film industry where different strategies and genres find their niche, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the global box office.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Black Phone 2‘s international opening compare to its predecessor?

Black Phone 2 achieved a strong international debut of $15.5 million across 71 markets, significantly outperforming the international launch of the original The Black Phone. This sequel also surpassed other horror titles like Sinners and Weapons in the same markets. Leading countries included Mexico ($4.3M), UK & Ireland ($1.48M), and Brazil ($1.2M), showcasing a strong global appetite for the horror franchise.

Which global markets were key contributors to these films’ box office success?

For Black Phone 2, Mexico ($4.3M), UK & Ireland ($1.48M), and Brazil ($1.2M) were top performers. Tron: Ares saw its strongest international numbers from Mexico ($4.9M), the UK ($4.3M), and France ($3.3M). One Battle After Another found significant success in the UK ($13M), France ($10.1M), and Germany ($7.7M). Finally, Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie launched particularly well in the UK & Ireland ($2.3M) and Spain ($1M).

What insights can be drawn from Tron: Ares‘s modest performance in China?

Tron: Ares‘s $2.8 million debut in China, while making it the top non-local film, highlights the ongoing challenge for Hollywood blockbusters in this crucial market. Local productions often dominate, and even anticipated foreign titles can face stiff competition or varied audience reception. This modest start suggests that even iconic franchises need strong local marketing and cultural resonance to truly “light up” the Chinese box office, underscoring the market’s unique dynamics.

Conclusion

The recent global box office updates reflect a dynamic and diverse film market. Black Phone 2 demonstrates the enduring appeal and profitability of well-crafted horror sequels. Tron: Ares navigates a competitive landscape, with its premium format success offering a silver lining amidst broader challenges. Meanwhile, One Battle After Another proves that critical acclaim can translate into impressive, sustained international earnings, while Gabby’s Dollhouse carves out a robust niche in the animated family film segment. Tracking these trends provides invaluable insights into the ever-evolving preferences of audiences worldwide.

References

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