Street Fighter targets No. 1 with near-US$70 million global opening
Street Fighter is tipped to open at No. 1 in cinemas in the United States and Canada, and around the world, with global ticket sales of nearly US$70 million or more projected for its first weekend. Deadline
The domestic forecast, meaning the U.S. and Canada combined, sits in the high-US$30 millions. The international forecast sits in the mid-US$30 millions. Both figures come from the most recent tracking ahead of release.
A separate projection from Variety puts the domestic opening slightly lower, at US$25 million to US$35 million from 3,500 North American theatres. Variety That theatre count matches the booking figure reported elsewhere. An earlier long-range forecast from BoxOffice Pro had put the domestic opening at US$30 million to US$40 million. BoxOffice Pro
Previews begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, with a 7 p.m. fan event offering bonus footage and giveaways. The film is rated PG-13 and directed by Kitao Sakurai. It is booked in 3,500 theatres.
The film was co-financed by Legendary and Capcom for a net cost of US$82 million. Paramount is handling distribution, the business of placing the film in cinemas and collecting ticket revenue, but is not otherwise exposed on the production cost.
It is the first cinema release under Legendary's new global distribution deal with Paramount. Overseas, it is releasing in all markets except China, where Paramount does not hold rights.
For fans, this means a wide launch with a full evening of early shows. The Thursday fan screening is the first chance to see it with extras attached.
The opening arrives while Paramount's proposed combination with Warner Bros. remains under scrutiny. For Jan. 1 to Oct. 11, their combined domestic box office totalled US$941.6 million, ranking fourth behind Universal at US$1.86 billion, Disney at US$1.6 billion and Sony at US$1.37 billion.
Cinema United, the cinema owners' group, has warned that a merger could place as much as 40% of the box office with one studio. Deadline The two studios are set to release 36 films combined in 2027.
Elsewhere this weekend, Warner Bros. Clockwork's 4K re-release of Ken Russell's 1971 film The Devils is playing in 350 engagements in key U.S. and Canadian cities.
