China helps “Jason Bourne” top foreign box office charts

PanARMENIAN.Net - Chinese audiences lifted “Jason Bourne” to the top of the box office pack. The action-thriller debuted in the Middle Kingdom this week, racking up a muscular $50 million since its launch, while also inspiring reports that the jerky action sequences were making viewers who opted to see the film in 3D feel nauseous, Variety says.

Despite any unwelcome publicity, it took “Jason Bourne” less than a week of release in China to surpass the lifetime box office grosses that all the previous films in the spy series racked up during their runs in the country.

It also enabled the film to top foreign box office charts over the weekend, after it earned $56.8 million from 62 territories. That brings the sequel’s worldwide gross to $347.9 million. It now ranks as the second-highest grossing film in the franchise’s history, behind only “The Bourne Ultimatum’s” $442.8 million haul. “Jason Bourne” brought back series star Matt Damon into the fold after a nearly decade-long hiatus. Universal spent $120 million destroying much of the Las Vegas strip and sending Bourne on his latest jet-setting adventure, but the cost was likely worth it and the film franchise looks like it could plausibly and profitably continue through future installments.

Fox’s “Ice Age: Collision Course” nabbed runner-up status, picking up $50 million from 37 territories. The animated sequel has flopped domestically, eking out $61.7 million, but it is resonating with foreign crowds. Like “Jason Bourne,” the film got an assist from Chinese audiences. The movie launched to $42.5 million in China, which helped propel its worldwide receipts to $367.7 million.

Universal and Illumination Entertainment’s “The Secret Life of Pets” captured third place with $24.6 million, bringing the animated hit’s global haul to $724.4 million. In fourth position, Warner Bros.’ “Suicide Squad” earned $19.6 million to take its worldwide revenues to $636 million. New Line’s horror hit “Lights Out” rounded out the top five, picking up $9.6 million. That brings the film’s worldwide earnings to $125.7 million; an impressive return given its $4.9 million production budget.