‘Transformers’ scores debut franchise-low
The hulking machines of “Transformers” are no longer box-office behemoths in North America. But they’re still big in China. Michael Bay’s “Transformers: The Last Knight,” the fifth installment in the Hasbro series, scored a franchise-low domestic debut with an estimated $43.5million in ticket sales over the weekend and a five-day total of $69.1 million since opening Wednesday. All previous “Transformers” sequels opened with $97millionplus. But Paramount Pictures’ “The Last Knight,” the second “Transformers” movie to star Mark Wahlberg, still showed its might overseas. It took in $196.2 million internationally, including an impressive $123.4million in China. Future business will tell whether those grosses are enough to cover a hugely expensive movie: $217million to make, plus nearly as much to market. Studios reap a smaller percentage of ticket sales from Chinese theaters. And reviews — though never much of a factor in “Transformers” land — were worse for “The Last Knight” than the earlier films. Yet “Transformers” has been increasingly skewing international. The previous film, 2014’s “Age of Extinction,” made $858.6 million of its $1.1billion global haul abroad. “Wonder Woman” and “Cars 3” tied for second place, both with $25.2million. Nearly a month after opening, Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” continues to be a major draw. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers also are included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “Transformers: The
Last Knight”: $ 45.3 million ($196.2 million international). 2. (Tie) “Wonder Woman”: $25.2 million. 2. (Tie) “Cars 3”: $25.2 million. 4. “47 Meters Down”: $7.4 million. 5. “All Eyez On Me”: $5.9 million. 6. “The Mummy”: $5.8 million. 7. “Pirates of the Caribbean”: $5.2 million 8. “Rough Night”: $4.7 million. 9. “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie”: $4.3 million. 10. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”: $3 million.