LOS ANGELES 鈥� The combined powers of superheroes, the Pixar brand and a draught of family-friendly films helped 鈥淚ncredibles 2鈥� become the best animated opening of all time, the biggest PG-rated launch ever and the eighth highest film launch overall.
Disney estimated Sunday that the film earned $180 million in its first weekend in North American theatres 鈥� far surpassing industry analysts鈥� loftiest expectations which had the film pegged for a $120 to $140 million debut.
The previous animation record-holder was another Pixar sequel, 鈥淔inding Dory,鈥� which had a $135 million launch in 2016. It was Disney鈥檚 live-action 鈥淏eauty and the Beast鈥� that held the record for a PG debut with $174.8 million in 2017.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get to this level of opening without appealing to everyone whether you鈥檙e a fan of animation, superheroes or just out to have a good time and want to see a good movie,鈥� said Cathleen Taff, the head of distribution for Walt Disney Studios. 鈥淲e had a film that had something for all ages.鈥�
According to Disney, adults made up 31 per cent of the audience, families accounted for 57 per cent and teens 11 per cent.
鈥淚ncredibles 2鈥� comes 14 years after 鈥淭he Incredibles,鈥� which at the time boasted one of the biggest animated openings ever, and picks up right where the first film left off with the superhero family. Brad Bird returned to write and direct the sequel, which has been overwhelmingly well-received by both critics and audiences.
鈥淭his is one of the biggest over-performances I鈥檝e ever seen,鈥� said comScore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian. 鈥淭o over-perform by $40 million means everyone underestimated the power of animation to draw huge audiences.鈥�
鈥淚ncredibles 2鈥� is also the second biggest ever June debut, behind only 鈥淛urassic World鈥� ($208.8 million), which has its own sequel preparing to take a bite out of the box office when its opens in North America next weekend.
It knocked 鈥淥cean鈥檚 8鈥� to a distant second in its second weekend in theatres with $19.6 million. 鈥淥cean鈥檚 8鈥� still managed to outdo the non-鈥淚ncredibles鈥� newcomers, like the R-rated comedy 鈥淭ag,鈥� also a Warner Bros. release, which opened in third place with $14.6 million.
鈥淪olo: A Star Wars Story,鈥� fell to fourth place with $9.1 million and 鈥淒eadpool 2鈥� rounded out the top five with an additional $8.8 million.
Sony鈥檚 鈥淪uperfly鈥� remake landed in seventh place in its first weekend with $6.3 million, and Vertical Entertainment鈥檚 鈥淕otti,鈥� starring John Travolta, opened outside of the top 10. Playing in 503 locations, the long-delayed film which boasts a 0 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, took in $1.7 million.
After a slow early June, the box office overall is now running around 6 per cent ahead of where it was last year and will likely continue that growth next weekend when 鈥淛urassic World: Fallen Kingdom鈥� launches stateside.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1.鈥淚ncredibles 2,鈥� $180 million ($51.5 million international).
2.鈥淥cean鈥檚 8,鈥� $19.6 million ($19.3 million international).
3.鈥淭ag,鈥� $14.6 million ($1.4 million international).
4.鈥淪olo: A Star Wars Story,鈥� $9.1 million ($5.2 million international).
5.鈥淒eadpool 2,鈥� $8.8 million ($9.8 million international).
6.鈥淗ereditary,鈥� $7 million ($5.7 million international).
7.鈥淪uperfly,鈥� $6.3 million.
8.鈥淎vengers: Infinity War,鈥� $5.3 million ($3.1 million international).
9.鈥淎drift,鈥� $2.1 million ($453,000 international).
10.鈥淏ook Club,鈥� $1.9 million ($730,000 international).
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theatres (excluding the U.S. and sa国际传媒), according to comScore:
1. 鈥淛urassic World: Fallen Kingdom,鈥� $173.6 million.
2. 鈥淚ncredibles 2,鈥� $51.5 million.
3. 鈥淥cean鈥檚 8,鈥� $19.3 million.
4. 鈥淎 Strong Insect Crossing the River,鈥� $9.9 million.
5. 鈥淒eadpool 2,鈥� $9.8 million.
6. 鈥淭he Accidental Detective 2,鈥� $6 million.
7. 鈥淗ereditary,鈥� $5.7 million.
8. 鈥淪olo: A Star Wars Story,鈥� $5.2 million.
9. 鈥淩ace 3,鈥� $4.8 million.
10. 鈥淎vengers: Infinity War,鈥� $3.1 million.
