Transformers 4 Crosses $1 Billion in Box Office

The executives at Paramount and Michael Bay are probably very pleased right now as Transformers: Age of Extinction is the first film of 2014 to cross the $1 billion threshold (and 2nd film of the franchise to do so). The landmark was reached mostly due to very strong international sales of $763.8M in sales where $317M was from China alone. Ironically, TF4 achieved a franchise low in the United States with box office sales at $241.2M. The new landmark is to beat Dark of the Moon's $1.12B worldwide total (so another $100 million) but that doesn't really matter as the main goal was reached. No weekend breakdowns as TF4 dropped out of the top 10 in the States. On a somewhat related note, Guardians of the Galaxy (great movie) broke all expectations and came within sniffing distance of TF4's $100M best weekend of 2014 with a US total of $94M.

“Along with the immensely talented and versatile Mark Wahlberg, the great Steven Spielberg as executive producer, and a superb cast, he created a powerful re-launch of this franchise. This tremendous accomplishment – to be the first film of 2014 to earn over $1 billion at the box office – proves once again that Michael is a world-class filmmaker at the top of his game," said Grey, whose studio last week extended and expanded its deal with Bay.

Hidden Costs of Transformers 4 Chinese Success Story

An article from The Hollywood Reporter look at the hidden costs of Transformers: Age of Extinction's success in the China market. The movie ended its three week run (limited by law in China for foreign films) at a record breaking $317 million. On paper that sounds great but it turns out that Paramount might be lucky to recover even 25% of that total ($79.25M). Part of that is because around 50% of the gross is split between the studio and China. Another reason is what sounds like a system designed with graft and payouts in mind. "In China, there are often multiple parties involved [in film projects]," says one executive, citing as an example director Zhang Yimou's upcoming film Coming Home. "There must be 20 different companies involved in the movie, though it's all financed by one company," he adds. "It's incredibly labyrinthian and impossible to understand."

Transformers 4 Crosses $300M in China, Near $1 Billion

While Transformers: Age of Extinction continues to do only so-so in the States, its international box office remain strong as the film becomes the first film (domestic or foreign) to cross the $300 million mark in China with a current total of $301 million. At the end of this weekend the movie's estimated total is $236.3M in States and $730M international for a total of $966.3M. It should cross the threshold by the end of the week and probably match Dark of the Moon's $1.12 billion total. As for this weekend's stats, it was $4.6 in the US, and $37.5M overseas.

Transformers 4 Crosses $800 Million in Worldwide Box Office

While the stateside box office take of Transformers: Age of Extinction remains below expectations, the international take is likely far exceeding those same expectations as the movie ends the weekend $886 million worldwide total based on early estimates. In the states the movie made only $10 million (for $227M total) while its international gross was $81.2 million (for $659M total), boosted by premieres in various markets now that the World Cup is over. In Brazil it had a $16.5M opening, one of the largest ever in the country while in Germany it opened $11.2M, highest opening of the year in that country. In China, it continues to well taking in $9.6 million ($285.7M total). The film should easily pass $1 billion probably by end of next week, give or take a few days.

Transformers: Age of Extinction Top Movie of 2014

The box office totals are in for the third weekend since Transformers: Age of Extinction's release. The movie is the top movie of all time in China and now it records itself as being the top movie of 2014 with a worldwide gross of $752.3 million with still a dozen or so major markets about to get the movie now that the World Cup is over. The previous record holder, X-Men: Days of Future Past was at $731.4M.

In the States, Transformers 4 continues to loose steam with a weekend total of $16.3 million for a 56% drop from the previous weekends for a US total of $208.8 million that is expected to top out around $255M. Worldwide, the movie remains very strong with a $102M take for a total of $543.5M. Of that $102 take, $20.4 million is from its opening weekend in the UK and $16.2 from opening in Mexico. The movie did drop in China by 52% but still easily outpacing the US with a $25 million weekend for a $262.6 million. While the United States isn't going to provide the expected boost to the $1 billion goal, the huge international success of the movie along with upcoming release dates to go in Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Japan indicates that the movie will reach the goal and just might surpass Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

Transformers 4 Tops Slow Weekend

I was expecting Transformers: Age of Extinction's weekend box office to drop 50% but apparently I underestimated just how much the "more of the same" reviews (including mine) and the holiday weekend (down 43% compared to last year) would hurt the film as it dropped a whopping 65%. The current estimates indicate a $36.4 million weekend in the US ($174.7M US total) with $95.8 million in international sales (($400.9M total) for a $132.2 million weekend. The estimated 12 day worldwide box office total sits at $575.6 million. A number that any movie and those associated with it should be proud of except that they have the unusual definition of success being measured as a final take of at least $1 billion worldwide.

China Box Office Surpasses US for Transformers 4, Opens In India

It seems the cooperation deal with China is paying off for Paramount as the five day box office totals for Transformers: Age of Extinction in the country has surpassed the United States. As of Tuesday the film was at $134.5 million in China vs. $121 in the United States. This disparity is unlikely to last as I believe that foreign films in China can only stay in theaters for two or so weeks but it is still an impressive start that will only encourage more deals from the Hollywood studios. The expectation is Transformers 4 will become China's top grossing movie of all time, surpassing Avatar's $217.7 million (probably by end of weekend at current pace).

"The cooperation between CMMG and Paramount on TF4 is significant," Zhang Gen Ming, CEO and founder of CMMG, said in a statement. It marks CMMG’s first collaboration with a U.S. studio, Paramount Pictures.

Transformers 4 Makes $301.3 Million In First Opening Weekend

The early estimates are in and Transformers: Age of Extinction is clearly an international success with a worldwide first weekend take of $301.3 million despite near universal dislike of the film by critics. The movie just hit its $100 million goal in the United States, the first movie to do that in 2014. The movie's foreign total was $201.3 which includes a record breaking $90 million bow from China that is likely to trigger more "cooperation agreements" between the Chinese government and Hollywood (so get ready for even more ham-fisted commercial "breaks" in the movies). In Russia it had a $21.7 million debut (2nd of all time for that country) and in South Korea it had its largest opening of the year at $21.5 million. Net result is the movie is currently 35% ahead of Dark of the Moon so it is on target to cross the $1 billion threshold. I expect TF4 to take a 50+% nosedive in the States but that is normal after such a large opening. The real attention remains on foreign gross as that will determine if that $1 billion threshold is crossed.

Transformers 4 Has Largest Opening Day of the Year

It looks like Transformers: Age of Extinction will easily meet is $100 million opening weekend goal as it took it $41.6 million just on Friday in the United States. As a result the weekend estimate is nudged up to $104 but will know in a few days. This makes for the largest opening day of the year.

Transformers 4 Thursday Night Box Office Results

Even though the movie has only been out for a day, already there are a few box office results to report. For its sneak preview Thursday night opening, the movie earned $8.8 million in the US which is less than Transformers: Dark of the Moon but don't read into that. In the last three years, midnight releases went from uncommon to very common to now being 8 to 9pm night before releases for almost every single movie that comes out (the exceptions are rare instead of vice versa). The only reason studios don't plaster a Thursday release date on their movies is it could lead to confusion for matinee goers in the US.

Transformers: Age of Extinction Tracking for $100 Million US Debut

Paramount's tracking indicates that Transformers: Age of Extinction will enjoy a huge weekend with a $100+ million debut in the United States. Transformers: Dark of the Moon enjoyed a $97.9 opening weekend but if I recall correctly it opened two days early were this one is opening with the usual Thursday night "preview" that all the summer films have been doing. Generally the higher the opening the long "legs" the movie has in theaters which will help its overall totals. Not always true but suspect that TF4 will stick with its processors' habit of opening big and then dropping around 50% each successive weekend. On a related note Amazon Local is offering movie tickets for $7 (that covers up to a $14 ticket value) from Fandango.com (Regal and other theaters). If interested click here but read through the details as from what I read it requires using the tickets all at once (so buy 4, must use all four at once). I guess you could just do a bunch of separate transactions. Thanks to Wynton R. for the AOE souvenir cup image that might be found at your local theater.

Transformers 4 To Break China Box Office Records

According to The Hollywood Reporter, it looks like Transformers: Age of Extinction is poised to unseat Avatar for most successful movie in China. Avatar made $221.9 million and the "industry people" are estimating the movie could land in the $240 million range before it leaves Chinese theaters. The likely factors that could lead to a new record holder in the country is an additional 10,000 screens added to the country since Dark of the Moon was released with its $177.9 million take in the country. In addition the cooperation agreement that lead to China locations featuring strong in the story along with popular China film stars Li Bingbing and Han Geng can only help.

More help is some of the theater chains in the country plan on having 50% or more of their screens dedicated to the movie. Box office success in China is a major component of Paramount's worldwide plan for the movie and part of their overall plan to be able to release more and more films in the country which has a limit on what non-China based films can be shown in the country unless they meet certain requirements such as being set in the country, using actors from the country and portraying the country in a positive light. Requirements Age of Extinction met and so avoided the foreign film limit. The movie premieres in China on June 27th just like it does in many (non-FIFA oriented) countries around the world.

Transformers: Age of Extinction Tracking for $100 Million Opening

Paramount and Hasbro must be grinning ear to ear as it seems the slow rollout followed by a deluge of TV spots has paid off. The Hollywood Reporter indicates the movie is on track for one of the biggest openings of the year (so far) at around $100 million for its opening weekend in the United States. It is expected to also do extremely well overseas but no specific numbers were provided. The other three movies also opened well but their opening skey heavy due to all of them enjoying essentially a five day launch due to early premieres. So far all indications are that Transformers 4 will stick with the Thursday 8pm opening that most other movies have been doing this year. The goal is to surpass Transformers: Dark of the Moon's worldwide gross of $1.123 billion by the time it leaves theaters. Also slipped into the article is an indication that the film cost $200 million-plus, much higher than a previous report of $165 million.