Fairy queen “Maleficent” ruled the overseas box office this weekend, grossing $100.6 million in 48 territories. That was enough to beat out popular holdover “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” which grossed $95.6 million
“Days of Future Past” opened to a massive $172 million last weekend, the third highest tally for a comic book adaptation overseas (after “Iron Man 3” and “The Avengers”). The movie also opened in 100 countries, more than double the footprint of “Maleficent.”
The $100-million international bow for “Maleficent” ranks in the top 30 all-time, just behind “War of the Worlds” and “Godzilla.”
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The movie, an update on the tale of Sleeping Beauty, has racked up more than $170 million at the worldwide box office, though that number is subject to slight revisions Monday. That is the biggest opening of Angelina Jolie‘s career, and further proof that fairy tales work worldwide.
Both “Snow White and the Huntsman” and “Alice in Wonderland” banked the majority of their grosses overseas.
Though “Maleficent” and “X-Men” were the two biggest movies overseas, Warner Bros. also tested the waters with “Edge of Tomorrow,” Doug Liman‘s $178-million action movie starring Tom Cruise.
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It grossed $20 million overseas in 28 markets, luring some fans before the World Cup distracts them throughout June. Next week the movie opens in 36 new markets, as well as the United States.
“Edge of Tomorrow” just edged out “Overheard 3,” the latest installment in the popular Chinese crime-thriller series. The movie set a franchise record on its opening day in China, grossing 27.7 million reminibi ($4.43 million).