Dragonball Evolution Tops Asian Box Office

Dragonball Evolution Tops Asian Box Office

“Dragonball Evolution” premiered in eight Asian markets before its April 8 domestic opening. Director James Wong’s live-action adaptation of the famous Japanese cartoon series created by Akira Toriyama co-stars Justin Chatwin and Chow Yun-fat and drew $10.1 million from 2,110 screens.

By OriginalPhysco - Mar 16, 2009 06:03 AM EST
Filed Under: Dragonball Evolution
Source: Dragonballmovieblog.net

Following heavy pre-release promotion in the region, it premiered at No. 1 in China, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore. The China opening tally, $3.4 million from 855 locales, was Fox’s fourth-highest weekend opening in the market. “Dragonball’s” No. 2 Japan bow produced $3.3 million from 540 screens.

Dragonball: Evolution is the number one film in Korea, though the actual numbers have yet to come in. DBMB will have the full box office report, including the full international box office totals for Dragonball: Evolution, when the numbers become avaiable.

“Dragonball: Evolution,” the Hollywood adaptation of the internationally loved comic, topped the South Korean box office during its opening weekend after its world premiere here March 12, according to 20th Century Fox Korea.

Real-time tallies of nationwide ticket reservations by the Korean Film Council showed Sunday that the action flick held an iron grip on the number one spot over “More Than Blue” ― despite the tendency of romantic films to dominate on White Day weekends.

China- $3,363,000
Hong-Kong - $489,000
Japon - $3,326,000
Malaysia - $731,000
Singapore - $389,000
Taiwan - $132,000
Thailand - $523,000

Source from: www.dragonballmovieblog.net

Related:

Dragonball Evolution Sequel Script Already Written

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SGA
SGA - 3/16/2009, 12:37 PM
This from the anime news network.

The Hollywood Reporter newspaper reports that the live-action Dragonball: Evolution film opened as the #1 movie in five of the eight Asian markets in which it opened this past weekend. James Wong and 20th Century Fox's adaptation of Akira Toriyama's fighting manga made US$10.106 million on 2,118 screens to rank as the #4 film outside North America for the weekend. (According to Box Office Mojo, two of the three higher grossing films, Marley and Me and Gran Torino, opened in 34 and 27 markets, respectively.)

It was the top-grossing film in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. According to the Screen International magazine's website, the US$3.4 million box office take in 855 theaters in China was Fox's fourth highest opening weekend in that market. It also delivered Fox's third highest opening weekend in Malaysia with US$731,441 on 110 screens.

The Hollywood Reporter says that the film opened at #2 in Japan with US$3.3 million on 540 screens, but Kogyo Tsushinsha reports the film was #3 in Japan, below the live-action Yatterman film and the Doraemon: Shin Nobita no Uchū Kaitakushi (Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's How Space Was Won, New Edition) anime. Similarly, Screen International reports that it opened at #2 in South Korea with US$1.2 million on 280 screens, but The Korea Times newspaper reports it was #1. The movie opened in South Korea on March 12, two days before the actual start of the weekend. It will open in the United Kingdom on April 3 and then open in the United States on April 8.
Neo24real
Neo24real - 3/16/2009, 12:38 PM
WTF!!!
Shaman
Shaman - 3/16/2009, 12:57 PM
As i have posted before...

So all in all, they made roughly 17 million dollars and they're what... 4,050,404,000 people in Asia??? And it was No. freakin 1?!?!?!? What was it up against? Attack of the Shitake Mushrooms part 7?!?!?!?!?!? And that was Fox's fourth-highest weekend opening in the market?!?!?!? I feel like i'm watching the special olympics and that i have to clap my hands at how "special" they are.
padidas
padidas - 3/16/2009, 3:44 PM
Shaman: movie tickets in Asia aren't as expensive as the US, and not everybody can afford to watch a movie. People must be clapping at how 'special' you are.
Doritos
Doritos - 3/16/2009, 4:02 PM
Lol poor Shaman...you are lost man.
mativ16
mativ16 - 3/16/2009, 4:19 PM
This movie is gonna suck!
Zero1
Zero1 - 3/16/2009, 5:42 PM
I hope it dose well.I'm ok with the fact that there not following the "to the letter story" Todd Mcfarlane once said "The fastest way to bore your audience is to tell the same story over and over again"I'm interested in a fresh start.
dbzfan
dbzfan - 3/16/2009, 5:43 PM
@Mativ16:
You say this movie is going to suck when you're avatar is from a bombshell of a movie...just saying.
dbzfan
dbzfan - 3/16/2009, 5:44 PM
@Zero1:
I totally agree man. I want something different, a new telling of Dragonball.
NubaX
NubaX - 3/16/2009, 7:20 PM
Why would you WANT it to Bomb?

I Want it to be GOOD which wouldn't mean it Bombing.

Im Not Happy about a lot of what they did to it...But its Still not the same as actually SEEING it for MYSELF to know if its any good still...

We got Negative reviews from there yet they are No.1

When it hits HERE...in the US, then I'll Farily Judge it then.

Untill then, after hearing that it went No.1 after all the ridicule, It really makes it hard to just STRAIGHT UP HATE on the moive.

I mean...its No.1

So...I'll have to wait and see it before a Final Judgement.
NoobMike
NoobMike - 3/16/2009, 8:06 PM
Why can't I make new posts!!!!!!!

damn it....I have to post my watchmen review.

LOL, Zero1... you admire Todd McFarlane as a story teller, well he has written some nice things and he can draw pretty good, but he's not a master story teller so don't trust him giving insight on the craft. And I wouldn't mind a fresh start if it indeed was fresh, but it's the mouldy cheesy greasy greenish milk that was forgotten in the back of the fridge for weeks.

padidas... actually movie tickets in japan are extremely expensive, they are around 20 bucks each, I think in Hong Kong they are expensive too (don't know since I've never been there), so guess we are clapping for you too (you can't group all asian countries in the same economic scale). And the numbers aren't that great, (keep reading). I'm betting that next week the numbers will drop drastically.

see, that is what I mean with DBEtards, the delusional people that keep changing their arguments and twisting the facts to lie to themselves and convince themselves this movie will be great and will beat box office numbers everywhere(dbzfan... even Ben Ramsey said on his own blog that he was forced to make a tried an true formula for this script... so even the writer of the script admits that this isn't one bit original).

You are all extremely happy, well being number 1 in a slow week is nothing to be proud of...(sort of like getting a gold medal, when you are the only one competing) if you look at opening weekends for Japan, Tomb Raider craddle of life did 1 million more than DBE (and DBE on it's opening couldn't beat two movies, both based on anime characters, and they had been released a week ago), in Korea Final Destination 3 did 1 million on opening weekend (Oh Wong is a genius, he managed to make 200,000 more than his last movie), in Hong Kong it did the same as Spy Kids 3D and just over 70 thousand what Final Destination 3 did, and in Thailand it did the same as Blade Trinity, hell in Thailand Final Destination 3 did more than DBE on it's opening weekend, ROFLMAO. The only market in which it can be considered a success is China (it managed to be among the top 40 alltime opening weekend) on the other markets it wasn't among the top 100 (on some it wasn't even among the top 300).

For your reference, Final Destination 3 did 59 mill overseas, and the total gross was 113 mill. What this movie needs for a sequel is not being number 1, it needs ticket sales and so far things don't look too good (and I hope it bombs big time, so Fox learns to treat the franchise with respect).

And it has come to my attention that the movie is already online, most of the people that have any interest in this movie, won't probably be able to hold back and they'll end up watching it online, very few will end up seeing it again in theaters one month after seeing it.

As for the rest of regular moviegoers (the ones Wong allegedly made it for)... well most of them would read the horrible reviews and decide to skip it, I mean no one wants a movie filled with plot holes and which every review shows how unoriginal, how little attention to detail and quality, how badly acted, how rushed it seems, and in which all characters (including the villain) don't matter and have no motivations.

And if anyone sees Justin Chatwin summoning Shenron (oops forgot, he calls it DRAAAAGOOOOOON not Shenron), well....that would scare anyone with the slightest interest in seeing it.
MoonDoggyX
MoonDoggyX - 3/16/2009, 9:31 PM
@Noobmike

That was very informative, but SO WHAT! }:-p
OK... we got it! The movie isn't IronMan or the Dark Knight or even much Dragonball for that matter. We're not blind or DBETards(thats actually kinda funny). As off base as this movie is, we're not gonna miss it for the world. And we still hold the hope that it at least has a few things we loved about Dragonball. Why...? Because we're fans, not retarded. Remember what that's like Noob? Before you got all jaded and everything... lol... Chill out dude, really. You called us DBETards(still funny), but you just wrote a 8 PARAGRAPH "hate" post about a movie you haven't even seen yet. REALLY?!?! You are WAY more obsessed with this movie than us, and we actually want to see it.

LOL
Just blowing you a lil smoke Noob, don't take it personal.

Really, though, it's just a movie. All its supposed to do is entertain those who care to watch it. And, If it's not something you even care to watch, then pass it by. That simple. Not nearly a reason to call anyone DBETards(heh heh) just because they want to see it, that's kinda rude(and definitely not PC :-)) Especially since you haven't seen the movie and don't even plan to. That's what makes you a 100% USDA Certified Grade A HATER. If you want to shell out your own 10 bucks and actually watch the movie before you bash it, then have at it. Til then, whats the point?

@EVERYONE (DBETards and HATERS)
If you remember anything from this post I hope its this. Not every movie is gonna be The Godfather, Nor are they meant to be. Not every "comic book movie" is gonna be IronMan or the Dark Knight. Some movies are just meant to be fun and enjoyed. That's the real measure of a movie.
shibazz
shibazz - 3/16/2009, 9:49 PM

DBETards?!!?! Haha thats hilarious!!! yeah this movie is LAMO!!!!!! from the wire stunts to that earthworm of a Shenron to a .... wait forget it who cares , it sucks and it is a pale version of a vivid series. sorry guys maybe next time. And ya beter get off Shaman's back fools or else ima gonna have ta smack ya up with my POW-WOW!
SGA
SGA - 3/16/2009, 10:10 PM
Exactly MoonDoggy
Shadowelfz
Shadowelfz - 3/16/2009, 10:27 PM
Honestly, I'm surprised the movie did that well considering the minimal advertising put in it. Seriously, here in Detroit we havent seen commercials, magazines, movie previews, even parephenallia at all.

I have a feeling that were not alone. I bet the studios banking on the fact that DBall fans will know its coming out, and theres a lot of us, so there's no need for advertising. Sure, that works if your only interested in making enough profit to barely break even. Not very smart business. This is doubly stupid since they added the teen high school stuff to attract non-fans.

Whatever the case, it doesnt matter if the movie does good or not. As long as someone finds it entertaining, then it was a success. Thats the whole point of making movies.
NoobMike
NoobMike - 3/16/2009, 10:33 PM
Well, Moondoggy, you seem to be one of the few who has accepted from the start that it's cheesy, and bad and will see it no matter what. For that you have my respect and even if you feel my name calling included you, it didn't, you have been fairly consistent, I can accept that you like corn dogs and I like lasagna. The DBEtards label is reserved for all those changing their arguments on a daily basis as news from this started pouring in, or those that say it will rule since it is Dragonball. (Oh we don't want Bulma with blue hair, and when the image was leaked, OMG she looks so good in blue hair, thank god they gave her the wig)

I guess, you must be fairly new (newer than me at least), since I usually tend to write 9-10 paragraph posts, and on those long posts I try to back my opinions with facts (and a bit of agression and non PC)

And yes I know what being a fan is like, but I've never been a blind follower of anything... and the 27 minutes released plus the reviews coming in, for me, were enough to give me a decent idea of what the movie will be. Hope you enjoy it
mtwigg1
mtwigg1 - 3/17/2009, 1:10 AM
Lets be honest. Fox will never learn. Studios will never learn. They will get mad and spit and hang the director of pitiful grossing movie over a fire, but they themselves will never stop doing this. Even if this movie tanks box office wise over the many years of movie history, studio have it down to a science what to do with toxic films. They take them and grate them over hot coals (DVD rents, T.V. showing, etc) until they make the money back, and then continue to do it until profit appears, and with people would follow this movie till the end of the world at hand, you can bet this movie will turn a profit, either surprisingly at the box office, or over the next 20 years of milking. And if they can turn a profit on something, they tend to turn a def ear to everything else, as they happily smoke cigars, laughing as they look at their insane pay check for the hundredth time. And considering the internet has a stigma of being a place were people tend to insult everything once over before breakfast, you can bet nothing anyone says is going to make them run for cover(pause and think for a second, but that's pushing it).

Whenever i here arguments like these i think of two movies "the hulk" and "street fighter". We will start with the hulk. Everyone remembers ripping the 2003 hulk to tiny little piece in reviews, etc. Well current data today says that that movie turn a profit. And not just a half-assed one, but for a film budget of 137 million it got back 245 million. I don't think universal is crying now into their big piles of cash. The only reason for a reboot was because the outcry didn't tell Hollywood to do a better job, but told them their was a fresh market to resell the hulk to. We were lucky because Marvel studios should know damn well better how to film a marvel comic, but in the end the numbers seem the same. The second hulk for a budget of around 150 million grossed 265 million. In this i find reboot movie to be more of a personal attempt to target groups then box office woes. The hulk viewer were probably scene as a new market, thought marvel studios would probably treat their own original with a little more respect.

Then we got "street fighter". Both the 1994 movie and this current 2009 movie are sucking in the box office, yet records show that the 1994 movie made a total profit of a little less then three times its budget(earnings $99,423,521 (worldwide) to the budget $35,000,000 (estimated)). That the 1994 movie did so bad in the book office, yet someone was dumb enough to try this shit again, prove that the profit over time made was enough to not give a flying fling for anything the fans said, epically the ones against such a thing.

In retrospect, movie like "Dragonball Evolution" are never going to go away, just like bad movies and bad directors always appear. Until i see this movie, i will give it the benefit of the doubt(grudgingly), but i find these arguments tiresome. If some wants to see it they will see it, and if they don't they won't. beating each other over the head does little more then strength the resolve of the person getting hit. I find no argument will change peoples mind unless one, they trust your opinion, or two, they never real cared about the movies and seeing how people how don't care won't see this website, and everyone who trusts the haters have all ready chosen their sides, all we can do is sit and wait.

The only thing that is up for a battle is the possible of a sequel. Seeing as sequels are the anus of any movie franchise (other than the lord of the rings) unless it crap sparking gold out of every orifice, it with fail. I think "Dragonball Evolution" may earn a nice amount in the box office seeing that the producer will smack not only Asia and North America, but some of south America, Europe, and Australia with this, it will have some sort of impact. To be truth, it has been only four days since the movies release, and unless we know the whimps of every individual their is still plenty of room of it to succeed or fail. An the only way a sequel will work is if they get a new writer and director, or allow more liberties to be taken with the sequel to be more like the anime(a thin scraggy hope, but a hope).

In conclusion until the movie is advertised in America and grabs a more general interest, everyone form both side is singing to the quire, and not making FOX pocketbook worry one iota.(oh well, we can dream of better worlds can't we?)

mativ16
mativ16 - 3/17/2009, 6:51 AM
@dbzfan
What does my avatar have to do with anything. Stick to the movie at hand. Plus I dig the silver surfer. Plus check out the facts. According to boxofficemojo.com
FF:RoTSS
Foreign Total as of Feb. 1, 2009:
$157,126,025

DB:E
Foreign Total as of Mar. 15, 2009:
$10,106,000

I'll bet Dragonball tanks even worse then FF. The movie looks like shit and from the dozen clips I've seen so far everything about it sucks.
Shaman
Shaman - 3/17/2009, 6:54 AM
Padidas & Doritos- Even if half the population of Asia whent to see it only once and that the tickets cost only one single dollar, it would have made more than what it did. I really don't know where you guys studied math but this should explain perfectly what little (if any) credibility and worth your "diploma" has. To say that it's #1 does not mean in any way that it's numbers are good, hell even Punisher Warzone had a chance to be #1 depending on it's competition. It all depends on what it's going up against. And what "I" mean when "I" talk about "DBEtards" is that they are the ones that no matter what chunk was shown of the turd of a film this is, they would ultimately praise it as if it was pure gold just because it was labeled "Dragonball". You know, i could eat a bag of hazelnutts and then shit in a bucket and stick a spoon in it, who else than "retards" would eat it and call it "Nutella"? So here's clapping at you kids.

MoonDoggyX- For you and everybody that do honestly admit that whatever was shown of this movie is not nearely good enough to truly represent the spectacular franchise it's supposed to, but still admit that you've all been waiting a long time for it and will want to go see it at least once, BRAVISSIMO!!! That "qualifies" you to be true FANS and not retards. There is a huge difference between being a comprehensive Die Hard fan and one that puts asside common sense and logic to convince themselves that an apparently obvious chunk of shit is in "they're eyes" a golden nugget.

mtwigg1 & NoobMike- I totally agree with you both. But, i'm very adamant when it comes to my own entertainment and sufice it to say that bad acting, cheep effects and fake fighting simply doesn't do it for me. If this movie entertains others then good! More power to it. But i am entitled to my opinion since i am a fan of the franchise.

Shibazz- Thank you for your... "kind" words LOL :P
LastSon1027
LastSon1027 - 3/17/2009, 7:07 AM
Shaman has anyone ever told you that you have a way with words? Cause that is what you have my friend. I completely agree with everything you said. Unfortunately I am in the diehard fan area. I know this movie is gonna suck, but none the less I will go see it because I just cant help myself. I love Dragonball and I know that this will only fuel my rage for FOX but I have waited a while for this movie so it's better than nothing, although after I see it you can probably look for me to recant on that statement.
Shaman
Shaman - 3/17/2009, 7:23 AM
Well lastson, there's no shame in going to see this movie and the only good thing that can come from this is that it SHOULD fuel your rage for FOX. But in the end, mtwigg1 is right. There's no point in protesting anything. Fox will always make money and shitty movies. Hopefully someone somewhere is powerfull enough to buy them out and MAKE them produce better movie adaptations.
Shaman
Shaman - 3/17/2009, 8:56 AM
Good point :)
padidas
padidas - 3/17/2009, 2:37 PM
Shaman: the price of the tickets could be one of many factors that makes a #1 movie make only half a million bucks in places like Hong Kong. The number of people who go see movies may also have an effect. I don't know. But those are the stats in Asia. Perhaps I misunderstood your comment, and felt obliged, at the time, to negatively respond. Like LastSon said, you have a way with words. Although, they are funny, they are too politically incorrect to leave hanging. I had to say something, somehow. Aside from that, I do agree with most of things you have said.
dbzfan
dbzfan - 3/17/2009, 2:39 PM
@Mativ16
Yeah I like Silver Surfer as well. I don't care if it makes less than FF. I'm still going to go see it because I'm a dragonball fan.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 3/18/2009, 4:20 AM
Well im not a fan, i always thought the movie looked shit and apparently it is. But i feel sorry for fans of the Anime and i understand ther frustration and how badly they want this to be a good movie and do well

BUT box office is no indication of how good/bad a movie is...like i always say "You could smear shit on celluloid and people would flock to it" (not my quote)..Paul Blart:Mall Cop was number one for weeks in the U.S for christs sake! Taken is still up there at the top! Its a [frick]ing travesty of a movie. Of course everyone has different tastes and some are more discerning in them but i can only go by my own and those movies SUCK
Shaman
Shaman - 3/18/2009, 6:20 AM
Yeah i know padidas, i do enjoy occasionnaly "shocking" people with politically incorrect statements. That's how i shamelessly get my daily giggles. I do try to aim at the appropriate target though, and remain respectfull to others. But when someone goes out of they're way to walk like a duck and sound like a duck, then to me... they're begging to be roasted (not you but the people that try to sell us the movie) LOL :P

Roar, i really like Kevin James but Paul Blart didn't have the "charm" that Kevin normally brings to work. Which is why i didn't go see it. As for Taken, it might not be the place for it but it looked like a pretty good movie. It's numbers were good and everybody that i know who saw it had nothing but good comments so i REALLY would like to know what you didn't like, as your opinion does matter to me. It'b be nice to hear different about the movie :)
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 3/18/2009, 8:09 AM
Well for me it was just zenophobic, generic, predictable trash. Some people can get over a movie having bad acting and script and story and well..everything really as long as people fire guns and break arms. I cant. But that wasnt even the worst thing about it. It was just plain insulting to the intelligence. I believe its getting a sequel so ill sum up how it will probably go:

In this one his daughter will ask him can she go to Ireland, and hel tell her that the Irish are all drunken louts that hate American women and will rape and eat her the first chance they get..but she will go anyway!(Always listen to daddy!..Foreigners are BAD) And the FIRST person she speaks to when she gets off the plane will kidnap her and dress her as a leprechaun and force her to drink gallons of Guinness while pimping her out to the locals...but Neeson comes to rescue her and kills everyone in Ireland! Then takes his daughter home to finish her singing lessons with Holly Valance and become a superstar!

Substitute Ireland for France and thats Taken.
Shaman
Shaman - 3/18/2009, 8:19 AM
Aaaah... i get your point LOL. And they wanna make a "sequel"??? That's stupid... It's a stand alone story isn't it? And they say "foreigners" are bad LOL P
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 3/18/2009, 9:33 AM
Well they dont actually say that, and maybe thats a bit misleading. Basically the movie implies that there is something wrong with wanting to travel, like why would you want to leave the good ol U.S of A were people wont sell you into the sex trade! At least thats what i got from it, im sure ill be accused of reading too much into it..but even without the subtext its still a silly, predictable mess.

Also i just watched Dragonballs online..further proof good box office dont mean good movie!

Hey Shaman are you enetering the Black Freighter writing contest? I prob will but cant really decide on an idea
Shaman
Shaman - 3/18/2009, 10:17 AM
Aaahh good ol' U. S. of A. LMFAO!!! Sorry if i offend anyone but it really doesn't seem like the safest place to live anyway LOL Oooh the irony LOL :P I think danger can be found everywhere, i really don't see what warrents they're occasionnal pats on the back in that regards :)

Yeeeaaahhh i kinda knew you wouldn't be extatic on DBE there LOL :P To each's own i guess.

Actually, if i only had the vaguest grasp on the concept of the black freighter i might. So far, that's a contest i won't be participating in. It's a good idea, don't get me wrong, but i wouldn't know what to do with the concept. I couldn't fully understand it in the novel. I mean i understood it's "metaphore" but not really it's literature. I mean, what else can you do with the black freighter? What is it used for aside from being a pirate ship? Is it a ghost ship? I'm really lost here...
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 3/18/2009, 11:22 AM
Well my understanding of it is that its sposed to be a ghost ship from hell. And it makes its crew up of damned souls..so im going to go with that idea for my story anyway..but im sure there a thousand different ways you could use it.
Shaman
Shaman - 3/18/2009, 11:53 AM
Hmm... Thanks for the explanation. It does make certain ideas pop to mind but right now i don't really have that much time for it. If things clear up before the deadline, i might take a shot at it. Can't wait to read yours :))
DBZalltheway
DBZalltheway - 3/18/2009, 11:19 PM
its true if people see the same thing over and over again then there gonna get tired of it, thats why u have to spice it up a little.. its the same thing with every adaptaion to the big screen. x-men was not on key, and it did good, in Spiderman 3 peter parker did a very stupid dance.. i mean come on guys..

im sure its gonna do good u know, maybe not the best
Kyatollah
Kyatollah - 3/26/2009, 11:59 AM
They're signed on for two more. If this does well, we get Saiyan and Frieza at least. Could be a neat little trilogy. Fro what I've seen, I expect something that splits the diff between the first Mortal Kombat and X-Men. So I'm game.
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