According to Forbes, the enthusiasm with which the film has been met in the Chinese market has led several analysts to predict that Kung Fu Panda 3 has the potential to break box office records for the biggest three-day bow ever for an animated title in China.
Advertisement
The film’s performance in global territories, particularly China, was also outstanding.
The movie has topped the weekend box office list with its $41 million opening.
Chinese Christian Singer Jay Chou along with Canadian-Taiwanese young singer Patrick Brasca performed one of the much-awaited animation film series Kung Fu Panda 3 theme song entitled “Try”. Both movies have fallen well short of the original Kung Fu Panda’s strong $60 million opening weekend in the summer of 2008, but given that both sequels have opened above the $40 million mark shows some staying power for the franchise.
“Kung Fu Panda 3 definitely feels like the end of a trilogy and wraps up the dragon warrior’s story in a complete and satisfying way”, IGN’s Max Nicholson said.
The Revenant takes second place at the weekend box office with earnings of $12.4 million (GBP8.7 million).
Recently released The Finest Hours starring Chris Pine and Casey Affleck opened with $10.3 million.
Rounding out the rest 10 most-popular movies in the United States this weekend were “The Finest Hours” (10.3 million dollars), “Ride Along 2″ (8.3 million), “The Boy” (7.9 million), “Dirty Grandpa” (7.6 million), “The 5th Wave” (7 million), “Fifty Shades of Black” (6.2 million) and “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” (6 million).
The movie’s opening gross exceeded studio expectations of $35 million.
Disney’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” claimed third place with an estimated 10.8 million dollars.
Advertisement
Originally planned for a limited release before going somewhat wider at the last minute, “Jane Got a Gun”, starring Natalie Portman, grossed an estimated $275,000 on Friday for a weak per-theater average of about $227.
