Walt Disney Studios’ Maleficent dominated the box office with a strong $70 million debut domestically and $100.6 million internationally.
The Disney film, featuring Angelina Jolie as the infamous wicked fairy, was expected to top all films over the weekend, including Seth MacFarlane’s A Million Ways To Die In The West, which flopped in comparison. The R-rated comedy opened with a mere $17.1 million from 3,158 locations domestically.
“To be able to take something like Sleeping Beauty and come at it from a different angle is intriguing. Then when you can lay on the Disney brand and a star like Angelina Jolie, and you have all the ingredients,” said Disney’s distribution chief Dave Hollis.
The re-imagined Sleeping Beauty fairy tale is the biggest debut ever for Jolie. Her previous films grossed lesser numbers, with 2008’s Kung Fu Panda earning $60.2 million, 2008’s Wanted launching with $50.9 million, and 2005’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith making the least with $50.3 million.
Maleficent didn’t match the $79 million debut of 2013’s Oz the Great and Powerful, or the $116 million opening of 2010’s Alice, both which opened in the month of March.
Audience members on Rotten Tomatoes were more enchanted by Maleficent than critics, who gave the film a 52 percent “rotten” ranking.
With women making up half of the population and half of moviegoers, the female lead – featuring Jolie as the dark sorceress – was sure to attract many. Maleficent audience members were primarily 60 percent female and 45 percent families.
“It’s a unique thing,” said Hollis on Angelina Jolie. “Her star power transcends borders and genre.”
Last weeks box office winner, X-Men: Days of Future Past, fell 64 percent in its second weekend to $32.6 million for a domestic total of $162.1 million.
See what films made the top 10 list at the box office this weekend by clicking “Next”!
