Thor thunders in with $158m

Kiwi director Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok has topped the international box office with US$107.6 million ($158m) in 52 per cent of overseas markets, a week ahead of its US release. The film also earned its Marvel-Disney makers $2.2m in New Zealand on opening weekend, putting it at the top of our charts for this year. Britain was the top market with US$15.8m. It was the biggest October opening for a film in Britain except for James Bond titles. South Korea took in US$15.3m, then Australia at US$8.4m, Brazil at US$8.3m, France at US$7.4m, Indonesia at US$5.5m and Taiwan at US$5.4m. Disney said the opening of the third Thor movie was 4 per cent ahead of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and 22 per cent ahead of Doctor Strange.