'Furious' debut sets fast pace at theaters
LOS ANGELES — The eighth installment in the “Fast and the Furious” is on the path to becoming the biggest worldwide debut of all time, besting both “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Jurassic World.”
Universal Pictures on Sunday estimated that “The Fate of the Furious” would earn a record $532.5 million worldwide over the holiday weekend, thanks to a particularly robust showing in 63 territories, including China.
If the figures hold, it will inch past the record holder, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” which launched to $529 million in December of 2015 without China. The film set the record for biggest international weekend ever, with $432.3 million. The previous record holder was “Jurassic World” with $316.7 million.
“There is no market that hasn’t had a strong reception,” said Duncan Clark, Universal’s president of international distribution. “Whatever culture, whatever language, whatever country, we seem to have found a home.” Estimated sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters:
1. “The Fate of the Furious,” $100.2 million
2. “The Boss Baby,” $15.5 million
3. “Beauty and the Beast,” $13.6 million
4. “Smurfs: The Lost Village,” $6.5 million
5. “Going in Style,” $6.4 million
6. “Gifted,” $3 million.
7. “Get Out,” $2.9 million
8. “Power Rangers,” $2.9 million
9. “The Case for Christ,” $2.7 million.
10. “Kong: Skull Island,” $2.7 million