Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Hits $300 Million, Wild Robot Opens Overseas

Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” took flight at the international box office with $6.85 million from eight markets.

Top markets were China with $4 million and Australia with $1.9 million. The film, a sci-fi survival story about a robot that’s marooned on an uninhabited island, will roll out in North America and several other international territories on Sept. 27. Since reviews have been enthusiastic, “The Wild Robot” could become a surprise box office force. Lupita Nyong’o voices the isolated android called ROZZUM unit 7134, who goes by Roz and learns to adapt to the harsh surroundings by gradually building relationships with other animals.

Another animated offering, Paramount and Hasbro’s “Transformers One,” stumbled with $14 million while debuting in 50 international markets. It earned just double that of “The Wild Robot” despite having six times the footprint. “Transformers One” had the biggest start in Mexico with $2.2 million followed by Australia with $1.5 million, Japan with $820,000 and Panama with $625,000.

The film, led by the voice cast of Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry and Scarlett Johansson, opened behind expectations in North America with $25 million, bringing its global tally to $39 million to start. It carries a $75 million price tag. “Toy Story 4” filmmaker Josh Cooley directed “Transformers One,” a well-reviewed origin story about the feuding Autobots and Decepticons. Imax screens contributed $3 million of global revenues with strong showings in Japan, India and the Middle East.

Neither of those newcomers were big enough to overtake “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” which is the No. 1 film at the domestic, international and global box office for the third consecutive weekend. Tim Burton’s spooky sequel has added $17.2 million from 76 international territories, bringing its overseas total to $103 million. The Warner Bros. film has surpassed the $300 million mark globally with ticket sales currently at $329.7 million. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” has been the lone bright spot in an otherwise sleepy September at the box office.