In China, Kung Fu Panda 3 opened to a super $58.3-M over the weekend, the biggest launch of all time for an animated film there.
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The pic is the 1st major US-China co-production, as well as the 1st major Hollywood release to open simultaneously in China and North America.
“Kung Fu Panda 3” was produced by DreamWorks Animation and four-year-old Oriental DreamWorks, the joint venture founded by DWA and Chinese investors with the aim of producing mainly Chinese-themed films.
“Kung Fu Panda 3” showed plenty of power at the USA box office with a solid opening weekend of $41 million at 3,955 theaters as the durable family franchise dominated moviegoing. Even though the movie was No. 1 at the box office, that total marked a big decline for the series.
Kung Fu Panda 3, costing around $145 million to produce, earned an A CinemaScore.
“Kung Fu Panda 3” received a strong “A” rating from first-night moviegoers on CinemaScore and got a good 80 percent approval rating from critics on Totten Tomatoes.
The Fox FOXA, +3.21% FOX, +3.32% film far and away outperformed the other films that debuted this weekend.
Starring Chris Pine and Casey Affleck, it is based on the true story of a 1952 rescue of a ship that breaks apart during a raging New England nor’easter.
Fifty Shades of Black, spoofing Fifty Shades of Grey, came # 9 with an estimated $6.2-M from 2,075 theaters after earning a C CinemaScore. The newest DreamWorks flick nabbed $41 million for its opening weekend, The Revenant second in its sixth week at $12.4 million.
Disney’s The Finest Hours was the only other new release to make it to the Top 5, although the studio won’t be happy.
Disney’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” led the rest of the pack with $10.8 million at 2,566 locations, lifting its record-setting US total to $895.4 million.
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KFP3’s performance in China met best expectations with a record-breaking opening weekend for an animated film – $58.3 million from about 15,000 screens, including 3D and IMAX.
