“Kung Fu Panda 3” beats “The Revenant” to top box office

And even with such a solid opening in the states, “Kung Fu Panda 3” saw its best numbers in China, where the film reportedly brought in $57 million in its debut.

The pic is the 1st major US-China co-production, as well as the 1st major Hollywood release to open simultaneously in China and North America. The sequel is the first in the trilogy to be co-produced by DreamWorks Animation and Shanghai-based Oriental DreamWorks, which guaranteed it a preferential release under China’s restricted system. The family film cost around $145 million to produce.

The sci-fi blockbuster, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, took third with $11-million. There will be much soul searching if a film tailor-made for Chinese audiences does not meet expectations. Strong reviews and a voice cast featuring Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan and Seth Rogen once again fuelled the film’s North American success.

January is a notoriously very bad time for movies, but don’t tell that to Kung Fu Panda 3, because it may just kick you in the face and go break some box office records.

“The Revenant” remained a solid draw in its fourth weekend of wide release, thanks to its dozen Oscar nominations and DiCaprio’s star power.

Kung Fu Panda 3 is only the second new movie of the month to land number one along with Ride Along 2 which held the position for one weekend two weeks ago.

Marlon Wayans’ spoof “Fifty Shades of Black” generated only middling business at about US$6 million at 2,075 locations and Natalie Portman’s oft-delayed Western “Jane Got a Gun” was almost invisible with less than US$1 million at 1,210 screens. The only other film premiering in the top five this weekend was the coast guard action drama, The Finest Hours, pulling $10.3 million.

“It’s a terrific opening weekend”, said Chris Aronson, 20th Century Fox’s president of domestic distribution.