International Box Office Struggles: Him and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey Face Rejection Abroad
Two new Hollywood releases, Universal’s sports thriller “Him” and Sony’s romantic drama “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” faced rejection from international audiences. "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey," featuring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, failed to impress overseas, earning only $4.5 million from 45 markets. On the other hand, "Him," produced by Jordan Peele, struggled even more, making just $400,000 from 25 territories. Both films received poor reviews and disappointing audience scores.
Despite its weak international performance, "Him" managed to start stronger in the domestic box office, bringing in $13.5 million and reaching a global total of $13.86 million. The film, directed by Justin Tipping and starring Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers, has a modest production budget of $27 million. Analyst David A. Gross noted that sports-themed films, especially those centered around American football, often struggle to resonate with overseas audiences.
"A Big Bold Beautiful Journey" also faced challenges in North America, earning only $3.5 million in its debut and a total of $8 million worldwide. The film has yet to release in key markets like France, Italy, and South Korea. Gross expressed concerns about the film's high production cost and its ability to recoup expenses in the international market.
On a brighter note, Sony found success with "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle," which became the highest-grossing anime film ever, raking in $555 million globally. The film, supported by Sony-owned Crunchyroll and other partners, continues to perform well in overseas markets. "Infinity Castle" is the first installment in a planned three-film series following a boy's journey to become a demon slayer and save his sister.
Universal had a more favorable outcome with "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale," earning $8.3 million from 35 markets in its second weekend. The film, a continuation of the beloved TV series, has garnered $27.9 million internationally and $31.6 million domestically, totaling $59.5 million worldwide. While it falls short of the success of the first "Downton Abbey" film in 2019, which grossed $194.6 million globally, the studio remains optimistic about its performance compared to its predecessor, "Downton Abbey: A New Era."