Where to begin? Well, after a disappointing summer at the box office in North America, international numbers have made a bigger difference than ever as the blockbusters above each strived for success this year. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes opened with an impressive $47 million in China this weekend, sending its worldwide total up to $611 mllion. You have to wonder then just how much of a boost Guardians of the Galaxy will get when it debuts both there and in Japan this coming October, especially with a current worldwide total of $547.7 million. The Marvel Studios movie has grossed $273.1 million overseas, just a little less than its domestic haul of $274.6 million. Could we be looking at a run of close to $700 million worldwide? $650 million at least!
Meanwhile, Lucy has now passed $150 million internationally, giving it a cume of close to $270 million. That's a fantastic result for a film which has received mixed (but mostly positive reviews) and could change Marvel's mind about that Black Widow spin-off. Faring not quite so well is Hercules, the sandals and swords epic featuring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in the title role with X-Men: The Last Stand's Brett Ratner directing. Despite making a respectable $170 million worldwide so far, it hasn't exactly blown away the box office as some initially expected a movie like this starring the charismatic wrestler turned actor might. However, a number of countries have yet to show the film. Now, in a Michael Bay related update for you, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is closing in on $300 million worldwide with a current haul of $278 million. Way ahead of course is Transformers: Age of Extinction which is still the only 2014 release to hit $1 billion.