I’m thrilled to share the latest box office news from the UK and Ireland. Studiocanal’s third installment in the beloved Paddington franchise, “Paddington in Peru,” has delivered a commanding £9.6 million ($12.3 million) opening weekend at the box office.
This impressive debut marks the biggest opening of the year for a British-produced film, as well as the franchise’s highest UK opener to date. Studiocanal must be overjoyed with these results, which showcase the enduring appeal of the lovable bear from Peru.
Despite receiving somewhat tepid reviews, critics have noted that Paddington in Peru may not possess the inventive charm of its predecessors. Given that it didn’t release during the popular family-friendly periods of school holidays or the Christmas season, the film’s strong performance is all the more impressive.
Starring the regular cast, including Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington and Hugh Bonneville, alongside newcomers Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas, the third installment in the series has managed to draw in an estimated 1.2 million moviegoers across 732 cinemas in its opening weekend.
These box office numbers put “Paddington in Peru” in the company of some of the most successful British films in recent memory. Although “Paddington in Peru” still needs to surpass the £42.7 million total UK box office of “Paddington 2,” it has already surpassed the £5.1 million opening of the first film in the series, which was released in 2014.
The film’s success comes as the industry eagerly awaits the arrival of another highly anticipated British production—Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.” The sequel to the 2000 epic historical drama, featuring an impressive ensemble cast including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington, will open across more than 300 UK locations this Friday.
In the lead-up to the “Gladiator II” release, movie fans in the UK and Ireland will also have the opportunity to enjoy a diverse selection of other new films. On Wednesday, Cosmic Cat is opening the BFI Flare documentary “India’s 1st Best Trans Model Agency,” while on Thursday, Trafalgar Releasing is bowing the live concert film “Shawn Mendes: For Friends & Family Only,” and Yash Raj Films is releasing the action-packed Tamil-language Indian film “Kanguva,” starring Suriya.
Friday, the 17th of November, will see the arrival of several more intriguing titles, including Disney’s music documentary “Elton John: Never Too Late,” Dartmouth Films’ “Hyper: The Stevie Hyper D Story,” and the Sundance-winning music and politics-themed documentary “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” from Modern Films. Netflix is also providing a limited theatrical release for “Joy,” starring Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton, and Bill Nighy, while Vertigo is getting the holiday season started early with “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point.”
The Indian film slate for the week is equally diverse, with releases from Zee Studios International, Yash Raj Films, and Dreamz Entertainment. Additionally, Bakrania Media is rereleasing the cult horror hit “Tumbbad,” which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
As the UK and Irish box office continues to evolve, it’s clear that audiences are hungry for a wide range of cinematic experiences, from the familiar comfort of Paddington’s latest adventure to the epic grandeur of “Gladiator II.” With so many promising films on the horizon, movie lovers in these territories are in for a truly exciting few weeks ahead.