The 10th installment in the “Fast and Furious” franchise was off to the races this weekend, knocking “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” from the top spot and easily claiming the No. 1 spot at the box office.” Fast X” grossed $67.5 million in ticket sales at 4,046 North American theaters, according to estimates by Universal Pictures on Sunday.
It’s on the lower end of the series’ openings that culminated with the $142.2 million launch of “Furious 7,” the only film in the series to surpass $100 million. The domestic debut of “Fast X” only ranks above the top three. The latest film, “F9,” opened to $70 million in 2021.
But it’s also a series that has generally made the bulk of its money internationally, often more than 70%. True to form, abroad it is on turbo. “Fast X” opened in 84 markets internationally, playing in more than 24,000 theaters, where it earned an estimated $251.4 million. The top market was China with $78.3 million, followed by Mexico with $16.7 million. And that’s a worldwide debut of $319 million – the third-biggest in the franchise.
“It’s a global franchise with a huge following,” said Jim Orr, head of national distribution at Universal. “The themes resonate across the world.”
Directed by Louis Leterrier (who took over from Justin Lin during production), “Fast X” brings back the familiar crew including Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Jordana Brewster and adds several newcomers, like Brie Larson, Rita Moreno and a villain played by Jason Momoa. The ever-expanding cast also includes Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, Scott Eastwood and Helen Mirren.
Reports say the film cost $340 million to produce, not including marketing.
Reviews were mixed for “Fast X,” the beginning of the end for the $6 billion franchise, which currently has a 54% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. PA’s Mark Kennedy wrote in his review that “it’s become almost a camp, like it’s breathing too much of its own fumes” and that it’s also “monstrously silly and stupidly entertaining”.
According to exit polls, Audienecs were 29% Caucasian, 29% Hispanic, and 21% Black, and 58% were between the ages of 18 and 34. They gave the film a B+ CinemaScore.
In its third weekend, disney and Marvel” Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ” made around $32 million in North America to take second place. It has now grossed $266.5 million domestically and $659.1 million worldwide.
Third place went to another Universal juggernaut, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” which is now in its seventh weekend and available to rent on VOD. Nonetheless, it earned an additional $9.8 million in North America, bringing its domestic total to $549.3 million.
” Book Club: The Next Chapter added $3 million in its second weekend to take fourth place, while “Evil Dead Rise” rounded out the top five in its fifth weekend with $2.4 million.
‘Mario’ and ‘Fast X’ are just the latest success stories for Universal, after hits like “Cocaine Bear” and “M3GAN”. And later this summer, on July 21, they’ll be released.” Oppenheimer.”
“Universal as a studio is on an unparalleled streak in having this incredible slate of films from all types of genres,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “They’ve created an exit strategy that’s really perfect so far.”
“Fast X” does not have a fully open track, however. There will be significant competition in Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid” next weekend, in addition to a slew of viewers hoping to catch a Memorial Day weekend audience, including Julia Louis Dreyfus in ” You hurt my feelings “and the Broad Comedy” About my father”, with Sebastian Maniscalco and Robert De Niro.
Estimated Friday-Sunday ticket sales at US and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final national figures will be released on Monday.
1. “Fast X,” $67.5 million.
2. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” $32 million.
3. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” $9.8 million.
4. “Book Club: The Next Chapter,” $3 million.
5. ‘Evil Dead Rise’, $2.4 million.
6. ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’, $1.3 million.
7. “Are you there, God?” It’s me, Margaret. $1.3 million.
8. “Hypnotic,” $825,000.
9. “MET Opera: Don Giovanni,” $701,025.
10. “BlackBerry”, $525,000.