“BEOWULF” SLAYS GLOBAL BOX OFFICE

“Beowulf,” the revolutionary new epic adventure from Academy Award® winner Robert Zemeckis, conquered the worldwide box office as the #1 movie both in the U.S. and internationally. The Shangri-La Entertainment presentation, in association with ImageMovers Productions, was released domestically by Paramount Pictures and is being distributed internationally by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The film, featuring a stellar cast led by Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman and Angelina Jolie, earned $27.5 million in 3,153 theaters in the U.S. to claim the # 1 spot. In the widest U.S. release to date in Digital 3D, “Beowulf” grabbed roughly 40% of its estimated weekend gross from 740 Digital 3D screens, and 13 % from 84 IMAX 3D screens. “Beowulf” represents Zemeckis’ third highest domestic opening after “What Lies Beneath” and “Castaway.”

Opening day-and-date with the U.S. in select markets, the epic adventure swept across Asia and some European markets, earning an estimated $17.3 in its opening weekend, with nearly 2.4 million admissions from approximately 2,500 prints. International audiences responded to the Digital 3D experience, generating nearly $3 million from 156 IMAX 3D and Digital 3D screens.

The film conquered virtually every Asian market, opening to a strong #1 in Korea (KRW 3.4b/US$3.8m), including the highest ever results for a 3D release (US$ 661k). In Taiwan, “Beowulf” took in nearly 75% share of the top 5 films, and dominating the market with an excellent NT$ 28.7m (US$890k) nationwide. Thailand likewise was swept up in the experience, opening at #1 with a 76% share of the top 5 films in the market, grossing Baht 25m (US$756k). Beowulf also generated #1 openings in Hong Kong (HK$4.3m/US$546k), Malaysia (RM 1.24m/US$373k), Indonesia (RP 3.1m /US$341k) and Singapore (S$811k/US$538k), and earned Php 29m (US$675k) in the Philippines.

Based on the first ever published writing in the English language, “Beowulf” stormed across Europe, earning £2.2m (US$4.5m) in the UK, €1.48m (US$2.2m) in Italy, and €1.45m (US$2.1m) in Germany. In Austria, the film ranked #1, earning an estimated €247k (US$319k) on its opening weekend.

In the coming weeks, Zemeckis’ vision for an all-new “Beowulf” will be unleashed in France, Belgium (21 Nov), Russia, Holland (22 Nov), Spain, Mexico (23 Nov), Australia (29 Nov), Brazil (30 Nov) and Japan (1 Dec).

With “Beowulf,” Zemeckis takes moviegoers on an incredible journey using the powerful performances of his all-star cast enhanced with the newest available performance capture technology. The stellar cast is led by Ray Winstone in the title role. Joining him are Academy Award® winner Anthony Hopkins as the cursed King Hrothgar, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman and Oscar® winner Angelina Jolie as Grendel’s mother.

“Beowulf” opened in Singapore cinemas on the 15th November is reviewed here