‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ Surpasses Expectations with Strong Global Box Office Debut
Paramount’s latest installment in the Transformers franchise, ‘Rise of the Beasts,’ has exceeded expectations at the global box office, grossing an impressive $170 million during its opening weekend. The film garnered $60 million domestically and an additional $110 million from international markets, surpassing the projected $155 million earnings. While these numbers may not reach the colossal profits of the franchise’s prime, they indicate an improvement over the previous two movies, ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ and ‘Bumblebee.’
Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and featuring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, ‘Rise of the Beasts’ follows the Beast Wars storyline from Hasbro’s franchise and introduces the Maximals, shifting the focus from the Autobots and Decepticons. Reviews for the film have been mixed, with a current “rotten” score of 53% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. However, opening day audiences responded positively, giving it a strong A- CinemaScore.
In terms of international performance, Mexico led the way with $7.3 million, followed by Indonesia ($5.3 million), Peru ($5 million), South Korea ($4.4 million), France ($3.8 million), the U.K. ($3.8 million), Malaysia ($3.4 million), Thailand ($3.3 million), and India ($2.8 million). Notably, the movie achieved record-breaking opening weekend earnings in eight markets, including Indonesia, Argentina, Peru, Vietnam, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, and Bolivia. Figures are still pending for key markets like Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. ‘Rise of the Beasts’ also premiered simultaneously in China, contributing $40 million to the overseas total. Although China remains one of the largest theatrical markets globally, strict regulations on foreign film releases have dampened Hollywood’s success post-pandemic, resulting in only a few hits in recent years. This shift in sentiment becomes more apparent when considering the release of ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction,’ which actively targeted the Chinese market by featuring Chinese star Li Bingbing and showcasing scenes in Hong Kong.
Image via Paramount Pictures
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With a reported budget of $195 million, it remains to be seen whether ‘Rise of the Beasts’ can reignite interest in a franchise that seemed past its prime before the film’s release. The previous installment, ‘Bumblebee,’ concluded with a disappointing global total of $465 million, marking a franchise-low. While director Michael Bay’s tenure began on a high note, with the first Transformers film grossing $708 million worldwide, the franchise gradually lost its spark. Bay’s final film, ‘The Last Knight,’ managed only $603 million globally. The highest-grossing films in the franchise, ‘Age of Extinction’ and ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon,’ both surpassed the $1.1 billion mark worldwide. To learn more, you can watch our interview with producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura here, and stay tuned to FilmSweep for further updates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about box office debut
Q: How much did “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” gross at the global box office during its opening weekend?
A: “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” grossed $170 million globally in its opening weekend, with $60 million coming from domestic markets and an additional $110 million from international territories.
Q: What is the storyline of “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts”?
A: “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” follows the Beast Wars storyline from the Hasbro franchise. It introduces the Maximals, shifting the focus from the Autobots and Decepticons featured in previous movies.
Q: How has the movie been received by critics?
A: Reviews for “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” have been mixed. It currently holds a “rotten” score of 53% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. However, it received a strong A- CinemaScore from opening day audiences.
Q: Which countries contributed significantly to the overseas box office earnings?
A: Mexico accounted for $7.3 million of the $110 million earned from overseas markets. Other notable contributors were Indonesia ($5.3 million), Peru ($5 million), South Korea ($4.4 million), and France ($3.8 million).
Q: Can “Rise of the Beasts” revive interest in the Transformers franchise?
A: It is still too early to determine if “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” will revitalize interest in the franchise. The previous installment, “Bumblebee,” had relatively low global earnings, and the franchise has seen declining performance in recent years. The success of “Rise of the Beasts” will play a crucial role in determining its future prospects.
Q: What were the highest-grossing movies in the Transformers franchise?
A: The highest-grossing films in the franchise are “Transformers: Age of Extinction” and “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” both of which surpassed $1.1 billion in worldwide box office earnings.
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