Doctor Strange’s Sorcerer Supreme cast a spell on worldwide audiences this weekend, as the film debuted to solid global numbers ahead of its North American premiere next week.
The Marvel flick grossed an estimated $86 million, which registers a 49 percent improvement over the international gross of 2015’s Ant-Man, 37 percent ahead of 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, 23 percent over Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and roughly 1 percent above Thor: The Dark World when considering the same suite of territories and contemporary exchange rates.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton, and Chiwetel Ejiofor fronted the film as it debuted in 33 territories around the world, including strong showings in the U.K., France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Korea, Australia, and Mexico, accounting for approximately 45 percent of its planned footprint. The film stands to increase its global impact as it opens in key markets in the coming weeks, including Russia, Brazil, China, and Japan.
Additionally, Doctor Strange tallied the all-time biggest international October opening on IMAX screens as it earned an estimated $7.8 million on 213 screens in 32 countries. The number more than doubles the total grossed by previous October record holder, Warner Bros.’ Gravity, which premiered to $3.2 million from IMAX locations in 2013. Doctor Strange also notched the biggest IMAX opening of all time in South Korean, edging out Avengers: Age of Ultron.
The film’s planned IMAX rollout will see the Scott Derrickson-directed picture expanding by 787 locations in 34 additional markets, including North America and China, making the film the widest global IMAX release in history as it plays on over 1,000 formatted screens.
Doctor Strange, which screened at EW PopFest on Friday, opens in the U.S and Canada on Nov. 4.
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