IN THE SPOTLIGHT
“One movie isn’t enough to support a whole marketplace,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for comScore. “We need a real shot in the arm here. ‘Pacific Rim,’ that’s a fine opening. But we need bigger numbers to be put up.”
“Pacific Rim: Uprising” could point to better results abroad, where it grossed $122.5 million over the weekend. The July 2013 original, directed by Guillermo del Toro, was likewise conceived as an East-West hybrid tailored after classic kaiju movies, the Japanese giant monster genre. It launched with $37.3 million domestically and $45 million in China.
The $411 million worldwide haul for del Toro’s film was enough to prompt a sequel, even if enthusiasm for a second installment was considerably higher in Asia. Steven S. DeKnight co-wrote and directed “Uprising,” which critics largely slammed. It scored a 46 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“The domestic market was a very important part of it and we really came in above any reasonable expectations,” said Jim Orr, domestic distribution chief for Universal. “This was always engineered to be a worldwide event film.”
The strategy was similar for Warner Bros.’ “Tomb Raider” reboot, starring Alicia Vikander. Domestically, it dropped steeply in its second week, sliding 56 percent with $10.4 million. Sales have been brisker overseas, where “Tomb Raider” has grossed $170 million thus far.