The following is a list of the highest-grossing opening weekends for films. The list is dominated by recent films due to inflation, steadily increasing production and marketing budgets, and modern films opening on more screens.
Biggest worldwide openings on record
This list charts films the 50 biggest worldwide openings. Since many films do not open on Fridays in many markets, the 'opening' is taken to be the gross between the first day of release and the first Sunday following the movie's release. Figures prior to the year 2002 are not available.
Since many American films do not open in all markets at the same time, the 'opening' gross varies depending on when it was released in the US-Canada market. For example, for films like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice which opened in the US-Canada market and in most other major markets during the same weekend, the 'opening' is the total gross of the film during that weekend. On the other hand, for films like Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War which opened in several markets a week ahead of their respective releases in the US-Canada market, the 'opening' is the sum of the opening grosses in the markets where they were released first and the opening in the US-Canada market. In the latter case, the opening grosses from territories after the initial overseas opening are not included in the 'opening' of the film. In all cases, if a film opens in a market after its release in the US-Canada market, that opening is not included in the 'opening' of the film.
Individual country records
Biggest openings in China
Since many films do not open on Fridays in many markets (such as China), the 'opening' is taken to be the gross between the first day of release and the first Sunday following the movie's release.
Rank | Film | Year | Opening (USD)![21] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Detective Chinatown 3 | 2021 | $398,000,000[6] |
2 | The Battle at Lake Changjin II (Water Gate Bridge) | 2022 | $398,000,000[7] |
3 | Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | $330,528,623[22] |
4 | The Wandering Earth | 2019 | $298,110,095[17] |
5 | The Mermaid | 2016 | $274,049,983[20] |
6 | The Captain | 2019 | $251,966,468[23] |
7 | The Battle at Lake Changjin | 2021 | $235,000,000[24] |
8 | Too Cool to Kill | 2022 | $217,000,000[25] |
9 | Crazy Alien | 2019 | $214,749,033[26] |
10 | Dying to Survive | 2018 | $200,837,145[27] |
Biggest openings in the United States and Canada
Rank | Film | Year | Opening (USD)![21] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | $357,115,007 |
2 | Spider-Man: No Way Home | 2021 | $260,138,569 |
3 | Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | $257,698,183 |
4 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | 2015 | $247,966,675 |
5 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | 2017 | $220,009,584 |
6 | Jurassic World | 2015 | $208,806,270 |
7 | The Avengers | 2012 | $207,438,708 |
8 | Black Panther | 2018 | $202,003,951 |
9 | The Lion King | 2019 | $191,770,759 |
10 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | 2015 | $191,271,109 |
Biggest opening day in the United States
A list of the biggest opening days of release, including previews from midnight or the previous evening.
Rank | Movie name | Year | Opening day[28][29] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | $157,461,641 |
2 | Spider-Man: No Way Home | 2021 | $121,964,712 |
3 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | 2015 | $119,119,282 |
4 | Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | $106,334,939 |
5 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | 2017 | $104,684,491 |
6 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 | 2011 | $91,071,119 |
7 | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | 2022 | $90,720,784 |
8 | Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | 2019 | $89,615,288 |
9 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | 2015 | $84,424,532 |
10 | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | 2022 | $84,285,721 |
Biggest opening day in China
Rank | Movie name | Year | Opening day[28][29] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Detective Chinatown 3 | 2021 | $157,660,685 [lower-alpha 1] |
2 | Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | $108,331,722[lower-alpha 2] |
3 | The Battle at Lake Changjin II | 2022 | $105,000,000[32] |
4 | Monster Hunt 2 | 2018 | $86,166,961[lower-alpha 3] this is equivalent to $86,166,961.}} |
5 | Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | $70,567,331[lower-alpha 4] |
6 | The Fate of the Furious | 2017 | $69,699,875[lower-alpha 5] |
7 | Furious 7 | 2015 | $64,179,849[lower-alpha 6] |
8 | Crazy Alien | 2019 | $60,833,272[lower-alpha 7] |
9 | F9 | 2021 | $58,829,377[lower-alpha 8] |
10 | Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back | 2017 | $57,984,879[lower-alpha 9] |
Record holders
Previous opening weekend record holders worldwide
These are the films that, when first released, set the opening three-day weekend record after going into wide release.
Year | Title | Opening (USD in millions)[40][1] |
---|---|---|
2001 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | $114.1 |
2002 | Spider-Man | $125.9 |
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones | $179.3 | |
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | $189.9 | |
2003 | The Matrix Revolutions | $201.4 |
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | $250.0 | |
2005 | Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith | $303.9 |
2007 | Spider-Man 3 | $381.7 |
2009 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | $394.0 |
2011 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 | $483.2 |
2015 | Jurassic World | $525.5 |
Star Wars: The Force Awakens | $529.0 | |
2017 | The Fate of the Furious | $541.9 |
2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | $640.5 |
2019 | Avengers: Endgame | $1,223.6 |
Previous opening weekend record holders in the United States and Canada
These are the films that, when first released, set the opening record in the United States and Canada.
See also
Notes
- ↑ According to contemporaneous reports, The Deep opened to $8,124,316 on 800 screens on the weekend of June 17, 1977 beating the record set by Jaws.[42][43] Current websites only record data for 731 screen with a gross of $6.8 million.[44] Using the lower figure for The Deep, Jaws lost the overall weekend record to Star Wars in 1977 with a gross of $7,195,573 in its eleventh weekend.[45]
- ↑ Every Which Way but Loose held the opening weekend record until the following year but it lost the overall weekend record on the last weekend in 1978 to Superman, which recorded a gross of $10,363,384 in its third weekend.[46]
- ↑ According to EntGroup, Detective Chinatown 3 grossed CN¥1,018,220,000 on its opening day of 12 February 2021.[29] According to the 2021 exchange rate on the day of release,[30] this is equivalent to $157,660,685.
- ↑ According to EntGroup, Avengers: Endgame grossed CN¥728,130,000 on its opening day of 24 April 2019.[29] According to the 2019 exchange rate on the day of release,[31] this is equivalent to $108,331,722.
- ↑ According to EntGroup, Monster Hunt 2 grossed CN¥546,850,000 on its opening day of 16 February 2018.[29] According to the 2018 exchange rate on the day of release,[33] this is equivalent to $189,784,760.
- ↑ According to EntGroup, Avengers: Infinity War grossed CN¥446,790,000 on its opening day of 11 May 2018.[29] According to the 2018 exchange rate on the day of release,[34] this is equivalent to $70,567,331.
- ↑ According to EntGroup, The Fate of the Furious grossed CN¥479,800,000 on its opening day of 14 April 2017.[29] According to the 2017 exchange rate on the day of release,[35] this is equivalent to $69,699,875.
- ↑ According to EntGroup, Furious 7 grossed CN¥398,820,000 on its opening day of 12 April 2015.[29] According to the 2015 exchange rate on the day of release,[36] this is equivalent to $64,179,849.
- ↑ According to EntGroup, Crazy Alien grossed CN¥410,290,000 on its opening day of 5 February 2019.[29] According to the 2019 exchange rate on the day of release,[37] this is equivalent to $60,833,272.
- ↑ According to EntGroup, F9 grossed CN¥398,820,000 on its opening day of 21 May 2021.[29] According to the 2021 exchange rate on the day of release,[38] this is equivalent to $58,829,377.
- ↑ According to EntGroup, Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back grossed CN¥398,820,000 on its opening day of 28 January 2017.[29] According to the 2017 exchange rate on the day of release,[39] this is equivalent to $57,984,879.
References
- 1 2 "Worldwide Openings". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (2021-12-19). "'Spider-Man: No Way Home' Is Even More Amazing With $601M Global Debut For 3rd Biggest WW Bow Ever; $341M Snared Overseas – International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
- ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (May 8, 2022). "'Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness' Opens $450M Global Portal, $265M From Overseas – International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
In 49 material offshore markets, the Benedict Cumberbatch/Elizabeth Olsen-starrer conjured $265M for an estimated $450M worldwide debut including domestic [Note: the "domestic" figure of $185 million was later revised to $187 million]
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 9, 2022). "'Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness' Kick-Starts Summer Box Office With $187M Opening; Best Debut Ever For Sam Raimi – Monday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness came in ahead of Disney's $185M weekend projection with $187M this morning after a $39M Sunday, -32%
- ↑ "Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 2022-12-20. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- 1 2 Tartaglione, Nancy (2021-02-14). "'Detective Chinatown 3' Tops 'Avengers: Endgame' For Biggest Opening Weekend Ever In A Single Market With $398M, IMAX Crushes Records & Performance Perks Up Hollywood Hope – International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
- 1 2 "Water Gate Bridge: Chinese Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (June 11, 2022). "'Jurassic World Dominion' Roaring To $386M Global Through Sunday". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
- ↑ "'Super Mario Bros' Hits High Scores: Record Opening For Animated Pic At $377M+ WW, 5-Day U.S. Record $204M+; 'Air' Soars To $20M – Sunday Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. 2023-04-09. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
If overseas is still at $173M by tomorrow AM, then the new global opening record for an animated movie set by Super Mario Bros stands at $377.2M.
- ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (2019-12-22). "'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker' Awakens With $198M Overseas, $374M Global; 'Jumanji' Tops $300M WW – International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
The global opening is $373.5M with plenty of lucrative holiday play ahead
- ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (2019-11-25). "'Frozen 2' Even Hotter With $358M+ Global Bow; Biggest Animated Opening Ever WW & Overseas – International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
The studio reports that the international box office debut has risen $5M from yesterday's estimate to hit $228.2M, while global is now looking at $358.2M, including a higher estimated $130M domestic bow.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2019-11-25). "How Disney Turned 'Frozen 2' Into Biggest Global Toon Debut Of All-Time With $358M+, November Animated Pic U.S. Record $130M". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
Worldwide, Frozen 2 is a record opening for an animated pic, hands downs with a revised upward take of $228.2M international, $358.2M global.
- ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (2023-07-23). "Greta Gerwig Makes Box Office History as 'Barbie' Scores Biggest Opening Weekend Ever for Female Director". Variety. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ Buckley, Thomas (November 13, 2022). "Disney's 'Wakanda Forever' Reaps $181.3 Million, Lifting AMC". Bloomberg News. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ↑ Gant, Charles (November 14, 2022). "'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' delivers second-best opening of 2022". Screen International. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (2022-07-10). "'Thor: Love And Thunder' Nails $302M Global Debut; 'Minions' Gru-ving To $400M WW – International Box Office". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
- 1 2 "The Wandering Earth: Chinese Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ↑ "Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 2019-06-09. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
- ↑
- 1 2 "The Mermaid: Chinese Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- 1 2 3 "Opening Weekends". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 9 March 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- ↑ "Avengers: Endgame - Chinese Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ↑ "The Captain: Chinese Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ↑ "The Battle at Lake Changjin: Chinese Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ↑ "Too Cool to Kill: Chinese Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ↑ "Crazy Alien: Chinese Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- ↑ "Dying to Survive: Chinese Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
- 1 2 "Top Single Day Grosses". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Single-Day Box Office Ranking". endata.com.cn. Archived from the original on December 14, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
- ↑ "USD to CNY Rates on 2/12/2021 - Exchange Rates". Exchange-Rates.org. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ↑ "USD to CNY Rates on 4/24/2019 - Exchange Rates". Exchange-Rates.org. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ↑ "Water Gate Bridge". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ↑ "USD to CNY Rates on 2/16/2018 - Exchange Rates". Exchange-Rates.org. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ↑ "USD to CNY Rates on 5/11/2018 - Exchange Rates". Exchange-Rates.org. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ↑ "USD to CNY Rates on 4/14/2017 - Exchange Rates". Exchange-Rates.org. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ↑ "USD to CNY Rates on 4/12/2015 - Exchange Rates". Exchange-Rates.org. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ↑ "USD to CNY Rates on 2/5/2019 - Exchange Rates". Exchange-Rates.org. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ↑ "USD to CNY Rates on 5/21/2021 - Exchange Rates". Exchange-Rates.org. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ↑ "USD to CNY Rates on 1/29/2017 - Exchange Rates". Exchange-Rates.org. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ↑ "Worldwide Openings" (sorted on date). Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ↑ "Weekend Record Through the Years". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ↑ Murphy, A.D. (21 June 1977). "'Deep' Opening a 52-year Col Peak at $8.1 mil". Variety.
- ↑ Lewis, Richard Warren (July 3, 1977). "The Selling of 'The Deep'". The New York Times. p. 45. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ↑ "The Deep (1977) – Weekend Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ↑ "Star Wars (1977) – Weekend Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
- ↑ "Superman (1978) – Weekend Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.