While fans in North America still have to wait exactly one week untilJurassic World: Fallen Kingdomopens in theaters, the summer sequel had a big opening day in China. Early reports reveal thatJurassic World: Fallen Kingdomhas taken in a whopping $34.4 million, which could put it on track for one of the biggest debuts for a Hollywood movie in the Middle Kingdom this year. While it likely won’t come close toAvengers: Infinity War’s record-breaking $191 million opening weekend,Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdomis expected to out-gross other top U.S. performers in China such asBlack Panther($65.1 million) andReady Player One($61.6 million).
Chinese box office tracker EntGroup put the opening day projection a bit higher than the studio’s, at $36 million, but regardless,Jurassic Worldhas already made a big mark on the international box office. The movie has already rolled out in 49 international markets, largely to avoid competing with the World Cup, where it has earned an impressive $202 million, already surpassing the reported $170 million budget before it even opens in North America. As for its debut in China, it could have an even bigger impact in the Middle Kingdom than its predecessor.
The firstJurassic Worldearned an impressive $228.7 million in China during its run in the summer of 2015, including a whopping $99.1 million debut. While it remains to be seen if the sequel will meet or exceed the first movie, it’s clear from the opening day grosses that there is still a significant audience in China for this franchise.Jurassic World’s $228.7 million tally was the third highest for an American film in China that year, behindAvengers: Age of Ultron($240.7 million) andFurious 7($391 million).
As of now,Avengers: Infinity Warhas the highest tally for an American film in China with $366.2 million, which is good for third best in all of China, behind two local hits,Detective Chinatown 2($541.4 million) andOperation Red Sea($548.8 million). Other notable American releases in China includeReady Player One($218.4 million),Rampage($156.3 million) andBlack Panther($105 million). It’s possible that its opening weekend could surpassBlack Panther’s entire run at the Chinese box office, where massive drops between weekends of more than 70% are more normal than they are in the United States.
Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard return as Owen and Claire from 2015’sJurassic World, alongside a number of franchise newcomers like James Cromwell, Ted Levine, Justice Smith, Geraldine Chaplin, Daniella Pineda and Toby Jones, plus Jeff Goldblum reprising his originalJurassic Parkrole as Ian Malcolm. J.A. Bayona (The Impossible) takes the helm of this sequel, replacingJurassic Worlddirector Colin Trevorrow, who returns to produce and write the script with his longtime writing partner Derek Connolly. Box office analysts have predicted a $140 million opening weekend forJurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, but we’ll have to wait and see how those numbers compare to the actual grosses. You can head over to The Hollywood Reporter for their report on the Chinese opening day grosses ofJurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
