There is a hard-core of Transformers’ fans in Australia but the franchise seems to be losing a bit of steam judging by the debut of Transformers: Age of Extinction.
Michael Bay’s sci-fi extravaganza raked in $10.1 million in its first five days, including $1.3 million on the opening day last Wednesday.
That’s the biggest opening of the year in Oz (beating X Men: Days of Future Past’s $8.3 million) but well below the third edition of the franchise, Transformers: Dark Of The Moon, which pulled in $12.4 million in its first five days in 2011, including $2.6 million on the opening Wednesday.
In 37 international markets, Bay’s film amassed $US202 million last weekend, 35% up on the predecessor, and it was especially potent in China ($92 million), Russia and South Korea; the US opening was $100 million.
The key question now in Oz, with schools on vacation in most States, is whether the action-adventure starring Mark Wahlberg as the garage inventor who leads the race to rescue Autobots’ leader Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), will show stronger legs than the previous instalment, which ended up with $37.6 million.
Age of Extinction singlehandedly boosted the nationwide 4-day B.O. by 14% to $19.1 million, according to Rentrak’s weekend estimates.
Buddy cop comedy 22 Jump Street was not much fazed by the Autobots, falling by 48% to $3.5 million in its second outing, propelling its total to $12.7 million.
Clearly appealing to a much younger demographic, How to Train Your Dragon 2 dipped by 29% to $2.5 million in its second weekend, scoring $12.1 million thus far.
The Two Faces of January, Hossein Amini’s thriller set in Greece and Istanbul of 1962, adapted from Patricia Highsmith's novel, is getting good word of mouth, lifing its second weekend takings by 9% to $247,000, and its tally to $606,000.
Yves Saint Laurent, Jalil Lespert’s biopic on the French designer and his lover and business partner Pierre Berge, opened with a stylish $119,000 on 18 screens.
The Volcano, a French farce about a divorced couple who race to Greece for their daughter’s wedding, spluttered with $19,000 in its debut on 12 screens.
The Last Impresario, Gracie Otto’s documentary on British stage and screen producer Michael White, earned $9,000 from limited sessions at nine screens, and $15,000 including previews.
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE June 26-29
|
|
Title |
Week/ Screens |
Box Office |
% +- |
Total
|
|
1 |
Transformers: Age of Extinction |
1/623 |
$8,802,859 |
NA |
$10,136,309 |
|
2 |
22 Jump Street |
2/359 |
3,557,427 |
-48 |
12,698,793 |
|
3 |
How to Train Your Dragon 2 |
2/548 |
2,491,979 |
-29 |
12,133,576 |
|
4 |
The Fault in our Stars |
4/266 |
769,093 |
-40 |
11,167,405 |
|
5 |
Maleficent |
5/199 |
699,551 |
-34 |
13,799,033 |
|
6 |
Blended |
3/199 |
509,325 |
-33 |
3,199,194 |
|
7 |
Edge of Tomorrrow |
4/215 |
464,583 |
-53 |
8,577,542 |
|
8 |
Tinkerbell: The Pirate Fairy |
1/169 |
336,900 |
NA |
340,786 |
|
9 |
X Men: Days of Future Past |
6/120 |
250,770 |
-61 |
22,111,003 |
|
10 |
The Two Faces of January |
2/36 |
247,408 |
+9 |
606,491 |
Source: Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia