A billion dollars the ‘Fast’ way
‘How to Be a Latin Lover’ performs well beyond expectations in its debut week.
The latest in the “Furious” franchise passes a big worldwide box-office mark.
Universal’s “The Fate of the Furious” cannot be stopped at the box office.
With an estimated $19.4 million in ticket sales over the weekend, the eighth installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise has grossed $192.7 million domestically. On the international front, the picture crossed the billion-dollar mark.
But two other movies, while not box-office champs, were winners in other ways.
Pantelion’s “How to Be a Latin Lover” pulled in an estimated $12 million in the U.S. and Canada, well above analysts’ single-digit projections. The Latino-focused joint venture of Lionsgate and Grupo Televisa was the studio’s biggest opening.
“We’re all very happy with the results,” said David Spitz, Lionsgate’s distribution chief. “Eugenio [Derbez] has star power.”
“How to Be a Latin Lover” stars Derbez as a man who falls on hard times after a career based on seducing older women. Salma Hayek costars along with Rob Lowe and Kristen Bell.
The film’s stellar performance from just 1,118 locations, about a quarter the number of “Furious” is important considering the demographics of its audience. About 50% were older than 35, and 89% were Latino.
Derbez is no stranger to American audiences. In 2013 he directed himself in “Instructions Not Included,” which went on to become the highest-grossing Spanishlanguage film and the fourth-best performing foreign-language film released in the U.S. and Canada.
Eyes also were on Great India Films’ “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion,” which, after screening in only 420 locations, landed in third with $10.1 million. The Tollywood (Telugu language) film from South India is a historical action drama fantasy, the sequel to 2015’s “Baahubali: The Beginning,” which made $3.6 million when it opened in 236 theaters in 2015.
Directed by S.S. Rajamouli, known for a host of Telugu pictures, the film stars Prabhas, Rana Daggubati and Anushka Shetty, all noted actors in India.
“The strength of this staggering debut demonstrates that the passion for a Indian film that is presented in multiple language formats and IMAX should not be underestimated and that a loyal fanbase can propel it to the No. 3 spot at the box office in a marketplace loaded with big budget Hollywood fare,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst with comScore.