It certainly wouldn’t have been the opening that Warner Bros., DC Films, director Patty Jenkins, star Gal Gadot and everyone else involved with the movie envisioned when they first began work on the sequel, but Wonder Woman 1984 finally made its bow this past weekend as it began an international rollout ahead of its U.S. debut in theaters and on HBO Max on Christmas Day.
Despite the pandemic being mostly under control in China, the DC superhero sequel managed to gross just $18.8 million in the Middle Kingdom – just under half the opening weekend of its predecessor which launched with $38 million in 2017. $19.7 million from a further 31 markets giving Wonder Woman 1984 a $38.5 million international opening.
SEE ALSO: Read our review of Wonder Woman 1984 here
Although it’s being reported as a disappointing opening, it’s difficult to blame anything but the current climate, with much of the world still facing lockdowns and restrictions that prevent many from attending the cinema, even if they’re willing to do so (only around a quarter of screens remain open in the UK at present, for example).
Wonder Woman 1984 reunites Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins with stars Gal Gadot (Diana Prince), Chris Pine (Steve Trevor), Connie Nielsen (Queen Hippolyta), Robin Wright (General Antiope) and new additions Kristen Wiig (Ghostbusters) as Barbara Ann Minerva/Cheetah, and Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones) as Maxwell Lord.