Aquaman rides $94M wave in China
The Disney hit Ralph Breaks the Internet may have won last weekend in North America, but it was far from the biggest movie in the world.
That honour goes to WB/DC’s Aquaman, which won’t even open in North America until Dec. 21. Aquaman, which returns Jason Momoa to the title role for his first solo film in DC’s cinematic universe and co-stars Amber Heard, grossed $93.6 million even though it opened in only one market: China. (All figures in U.S. dollars.)
Aquaman, directed by James Wan, not only enjoyed the biggest Chinese opening ever for a Warner Bros. film, but also secured 85 per cent of the market share, Box Office Mojo reports.
Momoa’s previous turn in the marine suit, 2017’s Justice League, grossed only $50.6 million in its Chinese debut. Aquaman, on the other hand, now sits right alongside Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War for the top 20 biggest openings ever in China, not adjusting for inflation.
It certainly didn’t hurt Aquaman that Wan’s work has soared in China before. In 2015, his Furious 7 opened to $182.4 million — the fourth-biggest debut there.
Aquaman will spread to more than 40 overseas markets this weekend before opening in the U.S. and Canada on Dec. 21.
In North America, Ralph Breaks the Internet ($16.14 million) nudged The Grinch ($15.18 million) last weekend. That animation domination should continue this weekend with the debut of Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.