Universal Becomes First Studio to Reach Billion in International Box Office While ‘Dog Stars’ Fails to Perform

In a competitive weekend at the global box office, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” demonstrated its robust staying power, triumphing over the new release “Odyssey.” The superhero blockbuster generated .2 million worldwide, surpassing Christopher Nolan’s latest cinematic offering, which earned .9 million. This marks a remarkable achievement for “Spider-Man,” now in its fifth week, bringing its total revenue to an impressive .33 billion, which includes a substantial .44 billion from international markets and 1.5 million from domestic audiences. Such figures position it as the fourth highest-grossing film of all time globally.

Conversely, “Odyssey,” which has now accumulated .55 billion (3.8 million domestically and 8.7 million internationally), has positively impacted Universal Pictures, propelling the studio past the billion threshold in overseas receipts for 2026. This milestone is particularly significant, as it is the third time Universal has crossed this international box office mark. Furthermore, the studio had already achieved a billion global earnings benchmark earlier this year.

The weekend’s performance was bolstered by “Spider-Man,” which drew million from 29,000 screens across 67 markets, with key contributions from China (7.4 million), the United Kingdom (5.2 million), and Mexico (.2 million). In contrast, “Odyssey” saw a 29% decline from the previous weekend, with .3 million from domestic ticket sales and .6 million internationally, demonstrating that even the most anticipated films can experience fluctuations in audience turnout.

Meanwhile, other films also made their mark. “Insidious: Out of the Further” secured .8 million globally in its second weekend, further emphasizing the ongoing strength of the horror genre. “Dog Stars,” starring Jacob Elordi and directed by Ridley Scott, struggled during its opening, earning .3 million worldwide, a disappointing result given its substantial production and marketing budget.

As the summer draws to a close, industry analysts will be keenly observing box office trends as audiences prepare for fall releases. These weekly box office figures provide critical insight into changing viewing habits and the evolving landscape of the film industry.

#business #entertainment