YESTERDAY, we gave you the breakdown of what happened during the launch of Furious 7 which took place on Wednesday. Hardly could anyone think that such a grand opening would go without a reward. It was handsomely crowned with success, I will tell you why.
Universal's Furious 7 launched in North America Thursday night to a rousing $15.8 million, easily besting the $6.5 million start of blockbuster Fast and Furious 6.
To boot, it is the best showing in recent times for any film after The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1, which took in $17 million Thursday night on its way to a $121.9 million debut last November. Furious 7 began rolling out at 7 p.m. in 3,069 locations.
Imax theaters generated $2.2 million, the third-best number for Thursday previews after The Dark Knight Rises and Iron Man 3.
Furious 7 is getting the widest release in Universal's history. Domestically, it will be playing in 4,003 theaters by Good Friday. Internationally, it has booked more than 10,500 screens in 63 territories, although it won't open in China, Japan and Russia until later.
The current record-holder for top April opening domestically is Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which debuted to $95 million from 3,928 theaters last year.
Furious 7 is likewise poised to nab the biggest opening of 2015 to date. And if it beats the $121.9 million launch of Mockingjay — Part 1, it will mark the largest three-day opening since The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ($158 million) in November 2013.
This success wasn't recorded only in the North America, it was also reported that
"Furious 7" officially hit 12 international markets on Wednesday to pace an average of 60 percent bigger numbers than "Fast & Furious 6" in those same plays. The latest instalment in the franchise grossed $10.2M in its official release dates and $16.9M including previews in 22 additional markets. It was No. 1 in every territory and scored the highest opening day for the series internationally. Helping to boost this super-charged début is the benefit more than 800 IMAX theaters, with about 445 of those big screens playing internationally.
The majority of overseas markets for the latest in the franchise film breaks on April 3rd with 51 more territories going day-and-date with the U.S., which will have 365 domestic IMAX screens.
Market breakdowns see "F7" (which is playing as "Fast & Furious" 7 overseas) leading in Germany off the mark at $2.6M compared to "F&F6"‘s $1.4M opening, followed by France at $2.5M versus $1.9M on Wednesday for the earlier film. Other big starts off the block include Thailand ($1.3M v $816K), Korea ($972K v $619K), Peru ($520K v $379K), Switzerland ($416K v $62K) and Austria ($412K v $231K). Those are all dollar comparisons.
In total, Bolivia, Indonesia, Peru, Thailand and Trinidad, enjoyed the biggest opening day ever for all films with "F7." Universal’s actioner that features a bevy of returning stars and a farewell to Paul Walker is also the biggest opening day of all time in those territories for the late star as well as Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham and Neal Moritz.
WHY THE HIT?
The movie basks in massive awareness and interest, due to both the popularity of the street-racing series and Walker's death. The last film, Fast & Furious 6, debuted to a franchise-best $117 million over the four-day Memorial Day weekend in 2012, including $97.4 million for the three days, on its way to grossing $788.7 million worldwide.
HITCH AND SOLUTIONS
Universal intended to open Furious 7 on July 11, 2014, but production was halted in November 2013 when Walker died in a car crash during the Thanksgiving hiatus. After director James Wan, writer Chris Morgan and Universal pored over existing footage and tweaked the script, production resumed in April 2014.
Furious 7 pits Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto and crew (which includes Michelle Rodriguez andTyrese Gibson, among others, as well as Walker) against Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw, out for revenge after the death of his brother. Dwayne Johnson also reprises his role as Hobbs.
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