Many times when a film lately wins, it over-achieves and boy, did “Pitch Perfect 2” do that. With a eye-popping $70.3 million (actuals $69.2 million) opening weekend, it smashed its estimates in a by way, No, make that to the tune of $30 million over projections. It was expected to open around $40 million, while “Mad Max: Fury Road” was in that range as well.
It was setting up a battle between males and females and that played out. In the preview story here, it was noted if males stay home, “Pitch Perfect 2” wins. Rebel Wilson and her gang did inspire females to show up and take home a convincing win. Perhaps the males were saturated of late with “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Furious 7.” But, “Mad Max: Fury Road” did a solid $44.4 million (actuals, $45.4 million).
A full 75 percent of the audience of “Pitch Perfect 2” was females, as noted by The Wrap.
Tom Hardy steps in for Mel Gibson in “Mad Max: Fury Road” and again, the numbers were very good. It was rated R, while “Pitch Perfect 2” is PG-13. That does matter as many who may have wanted to see “Mad Max: Fury Road,” were not old enough. The female crowd drove “Pitch Perfect 2” to this win, but no one knew it would be by this much.
Weekend
1. “Pitch Perfect 2” – $70.3 million (update, actuals, 5.18.15, $69.3
2. “Mad Max: Fury Road” – $44.4 million (actuals, $45.4 million)
3. “Furious 7” – $38 million
* domestic figures
Speaking of “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” it went over $1 billion worldwide over the weekend. It now joins the $1 billion club. Almost 64 percent of its gross has come from the overseas market. It, however, is the highest-grossing film of 2015 so far.
The list of all-time worldwide leaders is not adjusted for inflation. Right now, there are 21 films that have gone over the $1 billion mark. Two have gone over $2 billion. They are “Titanic” and “Avatar.” “Avengers: Age of Ultron” sits at No. 8 worldwide as of today. “Furious 7” is perched at No. 4.
Another example of the power that drives the overseas box office is of the $1.489 billion total for “Furious 7,” a whopping $1.45 billion is from that market. Hollywood will now market more there and pay much more attention to that as they seem to be doing these days.
