By Jake Coyle, Film Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --The hulking machines of "Transformers" are no longer box-office behemoths in North America. But they're still big in China.
Michael Bay's "Transformers: The Last Knight," the fifth installment in the Hasbro series, scored a franchise-low domestic debut with an estimated $43.5 million in ticket sales over the weekend and a five-day total of $69.1 million since opening Wednesday. All previous "Transformers" sequels opened with $97 million-plus.
But Paramount Pictures' "The Last Knight," the second "Transformers" movie to star Mark Wahlberg, still showed its might overseas. It took in $196.2 million internationally, including an impressive $123.4 million in China.
Future business will tell whether those grosses are enough to cover a hugely expensive movie: $217 million to make, plus nearly as much to market. Studios reap a smaller percentage of ticket sales from Chinese theaters. And reviews — though never much of a factor in "Transformers" land — were worse for "The Last Knight" than the earlier films. Audiences gave this one a B-plus CinemaScore.
Yet "Transformers" has been increasingly skewing international. The previous film, 2014's "Age of Extinction," made $858.6 million of its $1.1 billion global haul abroad.
"Transformers' is built for a global audience," said Kyle Davies, president of distribution for Paramount. "You really have to consider how we did in the overall and it was really strong overseas and in China. That's how we treat 'Transformers': It's a global property. So we're hopeful that we're going to get to a good place."
"Wonder Woman" and "Cars 3" tied for second place, both with $25.2 million. Nearly a month after opening, Patty Jenkins' "Wonder Woman" continues to be a major draw. In four weeks, it has surpassed $300 million domestically. And at $652.9 million globally, it's the highest grossing film directed by a woman, not accounting for inflation.
In limited release Kumail Nanjiani's acclaimed romantic comedy "The Big Sick" landed the best per-screen average of the year. It opened in five theaters, grossing an average of $87,000 from each. Amazon plunked down $12 million for the Judd Apatow-produced Sundance Film Festival hit. Lionsgate is handling the theatrical release.
Sofia Coppola's "The Beguiled" wasn't far behind. In four theaters, it earned a per-screen average of $60,136. The Focus Features release, starring Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Colin Farrell, is a remake of Don Siegel's 1972 Civil War-era gothic thriller about a wounded Union soldier taken in by a Southern all-girls school. At the Cannes Film Festival last month, Coppola won best director, becoming only the second woman to do so.
Both "The Big Sick" and "The Beguiled" expand nationwide in the coming weeks.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers also are included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Transformers: The Last Knight," $ 45.3 million ($196.2 million international).
2. (Tie) "Wonder Woman," $25.2 million ($20.5 million international).
2. (Tie) "Cars 3," $25.2 million ($11.9 million international).
4. "47 Meters Down," $7.4 million.
5. "All Eyez On Me," $5.9 million ($1.1 million international).
6. "The Mummy," $5.8 million ($16.5 million international).
7. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales," $5.2 million ($8.3 million international).
8. "Rough Night," $4.7 million ($2 million international).
9. "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie," $4.3 million ($1 million international).
10. "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," $3 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:
1. "Transformers: The Last Knight," $196.2 million.
2. "Wonder Woman," $20.5 million.
3. "The Mummy," $16.5 million.
4. "Cars 3," $11.9 million.
5. "Baywatch," $10.3 million.
6. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales," $8.3 million.
7. "Despicable Me 3," $7.2 million.
8. "Everything, Everything," $2.8 million.
9. "77 Heartbreaks," $2.5 million.
10. "Alien: Covenant," $2.3 million.
Droga5 Appoints Emma Montgomery As Global Chief Strategy Officer
Creative agency network Droga5 has appointed Emma Montgomery as global chief strategy officer. She is the third global appointment for the agency this year, with Pelle Sjoenell named worldwide chief creative officer this past March, and global CEO Mark Green recently appointed this fall. Montgomery will be responsible for connecting and supercharging Droga5’s strategy and creative offerings globally. She will be based in its headquarters in New York City.
“Emma is a world-class strategic leader and authority that I’ve long admired and dreamt of being partners-in-crime with,” said Sjoenell. “Her work inspires the creativity that connects people and brands in ways that move business and culture forward, so I’m excited to finally be able to work with her alongside Mark, and to see her lead and further strengthen our leadership and strategy teams around the world.”
Montgomery joins Droga5 after serving as CEO of DDB Chicago. She’s been in the industry for over 20 years, and has served in several high-level leadership positions throughout her career, including as president and CSO of Leo Burnett Chicago, global CSO of TBWA, and CEO of Leo Burnett Australia. She’s also worked across a breadth of categories and multiple global clients such as Kraft, Aldi, Diageo and Molson Coors, among many others, including challenger brands and startups.
“I’m excited to join Droga5 and have the opportunity to help carve out a new path for the brand globally, building on its tremendous legacy of creative leadership,” said Montgomery. “The potential of Droga5, combined with the possibilities of Accenture Song, was too exciting to pass up. No other agency has what they have, and as marketing shifts, the chance to make creativity a genuine... Read More