Universal’s highly anticipated action-adventure film, “Fast X,” raced onto the global box office scene, revving up audiences with its high-octane thrills and beloved “Fast” family. Directed by Louis Leterrier, the tenth installment in the franchise features Vin Diesel’s street racer, Dom Toretto, and his crew as they confront a formidable adversary, engaging in death-defying stunts that defy gravity. Despite a slightly underwhelming domestic debut, “Fast X” powered its way to an impressive $320 million worldwide, securing the second-largest global opening weekend of the year, just behind another Universal title, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”
In North America, “Fast X” fell short of its predecessor, 2021’s “F9: The Fast Saga,” in terms of opening weekend ticket sales. While “F9” debuted with $70 million, the latest chapter launched with $67.5 million, signaling a diminishing return trend in the region. Pre-pandemic installments in the franchise enjoyed larger opening weekends, highlighting the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on theater attendance and box office performance.
However, the franchise’s true strength lies in its international appeal. Overseas ticket sales have consistently accounted for up to 75% of the franchise’s global earnings, and “Fast X” needs to continue this trend as it carries the heftiest budget to date, with a staggering $340 million production cost. The film delivered an impressive international performance, amassing $251.39 million from 84 markets. Key contributors to its success include China ($78 million), Mexico ($16 million), France ($9.6 million), and Brazil ($9.6 million).
Universal’s President of Domestic Distribution, Jim Orr, expressed his delight at the film’s global debut, praising the franchise’s ability to resonate with audiences worldwide. He highlighted the spectacular action and familiar themes that connect with viewers across the globe.
While critics and audiences offered mixed reviews, “Fast X” still managed to garner a “B+” CinemaScore. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a 54% rating. Looking ahead, the film faces minimal direct competition, with Sony’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” set to release in June.
In the domestic box office landscape, Disney’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” secured second place with a stronghold in its third weekend, adding $32.8 million to its total. Marvel’s superhero adventure has accumulated $267 million domestically and $659 million worldwide so far. However, it has yet to match the box office success of its predecessors in the franchise.
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” claimed the third spot, generating $9.7 million and reaching a North American total of $549 million. The film has surpassed “The Incredibles 2” to become the third highest-grossing animated movie of all time, with a global box office of $1.248 billion.
Rounding out the top five, “Book Club: The Next Chapter” earned $3 million, experiencing a 55% decline from its debut. The comedy, with a budget of $20 million, has accumulated $13.1 million after two weeks of release. Warner Bros. and New Line’s supernatural thriller sequel, “Evil Dead Rise,” secured fifth place, adding $2.3 million to its North American total of $64 million and a worldwide tally of $140 million.
