Quigley

As I have mentioned, from March to July 2016, at least 7 animated films will be released. There was clearly too much competition, i.e. they were scared of FD. There are countless examples of films that were successfully released a mere 2 years after their predecessor. I'm not buying that time was an issue. Let's admit it that Disney is winning every brand-power contest they decide to compete in. I would even bet that they'll win the X-Men: Apocalypse/Alice in Wonderland 2 contest (Memorial weekend 2016).

Not really. I just check BOM as usual and I noticed it under LATEST UPDATES. Strangely, no other box office website like boxoffice.com or THR or Deadline (R.I.P. Nikki Finke) have talked about it, although every one had mentioned that BvS had receded in the Marvel vs DC contest for May 2016's first weekend. Deadline even posted an article 19 hours ago, saying that the 2 films (HTTYD3 and FD) are opening on the same day. http://deadline.com/2014/09/nice-guys-russell-crowe-ryan-gosling-release-date-shane-black-827715/

Aware. I believe it's relevant there too, as an indication that HTTYD2's China gross didn't impress DWA enough to make them confident that HTTYD3 can stand a chance against FD.

I am delighted and ecstasized by the announcement that HTTYD3 has been moved from its initial date of June 17, 2016 - the same date as Finding Dory - to June 9, 2017. Now it is positioned to open one week ahead of an untitled Pixar film, which is a pretty grim fate already. Finding Dory on the other hand will open in a market asking crazily for a decent animated film. From March 17 to June 17, 2016, other animated films that will open are Boss Baby (DreamWorks), Clifford the Red Dog (oh, puh-lease) and Sausage Party (ridicule to the power of ridicule). However, the post-release competition is still pretty tough: Angry Birds, The BFG, Ice Age 5 and other family/adventure films like Tarzan, King Arthur, Marvel Untitled. Although the recession of HTTYD3 is good news, I still think Finding Dory would be better off if released around Memorial Day 2016 (e.g. one week before or after). But currently, I'm just enjoying how Disney won a competition for yet another important release date in 2016 (the other one was the Cap 3/Bat vs Sup fight). Hail Disney!

I am delighted and ecstasized by the announcement that HTTYD3 has been moved from its initial date of June 17, 2016 - the same date as Finding Dory - to June 9, 2017. Now it is positioned to open one week ahead of an untitled Pixar film, which is a pretty grim fate already. Finding Dory on the other hand will open in a market asking crazily for a decent animated film. From March 17 to June 17, 2016, other animated films that will open are Boss Baby (DreamWorks), Clifford the Red Dog (oh, puh-lease) and Sausage Party (ridicule to the power of ridicule). However, the post-release competition is still pretty tough: Angry Birds, The BFG, Ice Age 5 and other family/adventure films like Tarzan, King Arthur, Marvel Untitled. Although the recession of HTTYD3 is good news, I still think Finding Dory would be better off if released around Memorial Day 2016 (e.g. one week before or after). But currently, I'm just enjoying how Disney won a competition for yet another important release date in 2016 (the other one was the Cap 3/Bat vs Sup fight). Hail Disney!

We may all know that Mockingjay - Part 1 will surpass GotG in North America, a likely outcome for Hobbit 3 as well. However, the fact that the two highest-grossing films for the first 10-and-a half months of the year will probably be Marvel films is just outstanding. What is left for Marvel to accomplish after this? Oh, I guess Avengers 2 has to take down Avatar and that's it.

Isn't the OW of Apes huge? I mean all other Hollywood movies this year (except TF4) have a made less than $40M on their OW - and some of them were 4-day weekends, right? This is just WOW.

I think that total is highly likely. Of course, if China is bigger than expected, it could reach $400M. I think a safe bet would be $285M in NA and $385M outside NA, so WW = $670M.

I just want HTTYD3 to a ) move out of Finding Dory's way and b ) fail at the box office.

Deadline updated the weekend total: $35.2M - i.e. $2.1M more than the estimate. Amazing. Updated total: $197.6M

To be honest, I was expecting better. I don't think it can top Kung Fu Panda 2 in total gross.

Maleficent has made an est. $4.1M Mon-Thu. If it can make that amount in the next 3 days, that means an ~$8M week, i.e. it will surpass X-Men: DofP WW.

Trans4mers will still surpass Pirates 4 to become the biggest fourquel of all time worldwide. However, it won't surpass Transformers 3. I find it remarkable that it actually made $300M alone in China and still failed to surpass its predecessor. For me, that was a win against Michael Bay. That being said, he's still making a fifth one. A threat to humanity, I know, but we must face it.

Your argument is plausible. The weekday numbers are indeed too high. No holidays during the weekdays in either Japan or Venezuela, so I don't see how it could earn so much.UPDATE: Actually the weekend gross seems to be closer to $3.8M and the total gross as of Sunday is $493.0M (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&view=byweekend&wk=2014W31&id=maleficient.htm). BOM says the the $497.2M is as of Friday (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=maleficient.htm), which seems unlikely since the ScreenDaily article appeared Friday morning. However, if it was actually a projection of the total as of Friday, that would make more sense.

Anythign above the $41.3M that Cap 2 made on its 2nd wknd is perfect for Guardians. As for the $60M that TMNT will make, well, Michael Bay, I just despise you even more.

It's not a possibility; it's a certainty. It's just a matter of time.

Disney made it to $2B outside North America. Could it reach $3B like last year? If GotG yields another $300M, Maleficent another $20M and $30M from Planes 2, It will need $650M from Big Hero 6 and Into the Woods. As crazy as Frozen's run was, Big Hero 6 cannot yield that number during 2014 because it will be released in most countries during late December or early 2015. Even fewer markets will see Into the Woods before New Year so I think Disney won't make it to $3B. However, in 2015, maybe even $4B is possible!!!

$22M+ in Venezuela?? It almost feels as if Ray Subers is making another mistake related to converting the grosses from national currency to dollars.

That is definitely the case for other countries (studios report grosses) but in China's case, Subers has been using EntGroup's numbers consistently and is even using it for all other movies on the chart except for Transformers. How can he trust that EntGroup is accurate about other films but not about TF4?

it added $10M last week overseas. With the Obon holiday coming up in Japan, it will blow past $500M OS. Give it 2-3 weeks and it will pass Days of Future Past worldwide.

Could someone post a link to the schedule for Hollywood films in the next 1-2 months in China please?

I asked Subers but he refuses to answer

I need to wait until Septmeber 5th. Damn you, Disney.

Other films that opened in early August had an increase on Saturday or a minor drop (<5%). Even with -5% on Sat and -25% on Sun (worst-case scenario, imo), this film can reach $100M by grossing $37.6M on Fri: 37.6*(1+0.95+0.95*0.75)=100.11QED: This summer will finally have a TRUE $100M+ opener.

Whoa, 100 pages... this is ridiculous.