“Uncharted,” Sony’s long-awaited video game adaptation, took in $44 million over the weekend, topping domestic box office rankings and solidifying Tom Holland’s star power.
Outside of his blockbuster success as Spider-Man, the big-budget action movie has been positioned as a vital test of Holland’s bankability. Given that “Uncharted” has received mixed reviews, it’s reasonable to infer that the 25-year-old British actor had a hand in ticket sales. According to Reuters, it also helps that “Uncharted” is classified PG-13 and is based on one of the most popular video games.
“Uncharted” is estimated to make $52 million through Monday’s President’s Day holiday, directed by “Ruben Fleischer,” who previously directed Tom Hardy’s comic book tentpole “Venom” to box office triumph. It’s a strong start in COVID terms, but it doesn’t guarantee that the picture will be profitable. Because “Uncharted” costs $120 million, overseas ticket sales will be crucial in pulling the movie out of the deficit.
In order to do this, “Uncharted” was given a release date in China, the world’s largest theater market. Action movies with a lot of visual effects, like “Uncharted,” do well in China. However, the country’s censors have recently been extremely picky in allowing Hollywood films to run in its theaters, and when the Chinese government does accept non-local content, the results have been a mixed bag at the box office. As a result, the film’s success in China is uncertain. Piracy might be an issue because “Uncharted” won’t be released in China until March 14.
“Uncharted” has become a hit outside of China. The film has now grossed almost $55 million in international theaters and has surpassed the $100 million mark worldwide.