‘Gladiator II’ Roars to $87M in International Debut; Sets Record for Ridley Scott

In an electrifying opening, Gladiator II, directed by Ridley Scott, has stormed into 63 international markets, raking in an impressive $87 million. This monumental debut not only meets pre-release expectations but also sets the record for the largest overseas opening for a Ridley Scott film, as well as for Paramount’s best launch of an R-rated movie outside the U.S.

The sequel to the iconic Gladiator, which won the Best Picture Oscar 24 years ago, didn’t disappoint in major markets. The United Kingdom topped the charts with a strong $11.4 million from 722 venues. France followed closely behind with $10.3 million across 729 sites. Spain delivered $5.6 million from 411, while Australia contributed $4.9 million at 353 locations. Mexico rounded out the strong performances with $4.7 million from 922 sites.

Other nations showed robust numbers as well; Germany kicked off with $4.3 million from 650 theaters, Italy brought in $3.8 million from 530 locations, Korea generated $3.2 million from 545, and Brazil added $3 million from 759 sites. These figures are especially impressive as the domestic release (including China) is set for November 22.

Gladiator II features a star-studded cast including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, and Connie Nielsen. Its marketing strategies and partnerships are expected to keep the momentum going as it prepares for its domestic rollout.

In other box office news, Sony’s Venom: The Last Dance continues to show strong numbers, crossing the $400 million mark globally earlier this week and surpassing the international total of its predecessor, Venom: Let There Be Carnage. The film’s offshore total has reached $308.5 million after another solid weekend of $17.3 million across 66 international markets.

As for overall international performance, the top markets for Venom: The Last Dance are led by China at $90.3 million, followed by Mexico ($18.8 million), the UK ($15.3 million), Germany ($13.1 million), and Korea ($12.1 million).

Another title making waves is Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot, which has surpassed $300 million worldwide. The animated feature added $6 million this weekend, bringing its international total to $170.7 million and a global figure of $308.5 million.

And while some regions grappled with adverse weather conditions, The Wild Robot managed to hold strong in multiple markets, with Spain particularly shining in its sixth week, bringing its total there to $10 million. The film’s success is bolstered by excellent reviews, reflected in a stellar FilmAffinity score of 7.9—the highest for a DreamWorks Animation feature.

As the box office battles continue, film enthusiasts can expect an intense showdown when Gladiator II makes its domestic debut shortly. Will it continue to dominate the charts, or will other films rise to the challenge? Only time will tell!