We don’t update the site that often with box-office numbers, especially those from the other side of the pond, but after such a remarkable opening, I thought that this was worth the mention. On its opening weekend, the fifth movie in THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS series has smashed box office records, taking a massive $83.6 million in its first three days.
The film, known as simply FAST FIVE in the US, is not only the biggest opener of the year, it is the biggest Universal Pictures movie of all time. Yes. Of all time. That puts it at the 27th biggest opener of all movies by any studio, of all time, just ahead of STAR WARS, EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES and HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE. So, just for clarification – bigger than Star Wars and Harry Potter.
So say that the movie has exceeded expectation is somewhat of an understatement. It has taken a little over $165 million in wordwide receipts in just a little over two weeks. Astonishing.
The film itself is a piece of genius, combining all of the major characters from all of the previous F&F movies, along with former WWE star The Rock, Dwayne Johnson.
Congrats to Universal. Congrats to director Justin Lin and the producers. Bring on number six, which we’re told is already in the scripting process.
FYI, Universal’s previous biggest opener was THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, released all of the way back in 1997.
