The Fate of the Furious might have received mixed reviews from the critics, but the audience seems to have loved it. The eight instalment of the mega-hit franchise earned an estimated $532.5 million worldwide to set a new high-water mark for an opening weekend, according to Variety.
For the first time, Vin Diesel is going without his bestie Paul Walker, after his shocking car accident. The film opens with Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty's (Michelle Rodriguez) delayed honeymoon in Cuba, where we can see our hero using his superpower to help others. At one point, Dom runs into a mysterious woman Cipher (Charlize Theron) who compels him to return back to the dark world.
The action thriller bankrolled by Universal Studios has reportedly earned $432.3 million internationally after releasing in 63 foreign markets. "That helped offset declining domestic results. "The Fate of the Furious" opened to $100.2 million in North America, a sharp drop from "Furious 7's" $147.2 million kick-offs," Variety added.
In the Asian market, the film racked up a massive $190 million making it the biggest three-day opening weekend in history. "I'm extrapolating, but based on the reviews and the buzz we're getting from theaters, I think we can eclipse that," Duncan Clark, president of Universal Pictures International, was quoted.
In Mexico, the franchise earned $17.8 million, the United Kingdom and Ireland with $17 million, Russia with $14.1 million, Germany with $13.6 million, and Brazil with $12.8 million. The Imax format of the film grossed $31.1 million worth of revenue.
"This is truly a global franchise," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at ComScore, to Variety. "These movies translate perfectly into any culture. Fast cars, outrageous stunts — that's the international language for something everybody loves."
Made with a massive budget of $250 million, the star cast also include Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, and Kurt Russell. According to trade analysts, the overall earnings of the eight instalment stands at $4.4 billion worldwide—the most successful Universal franchise.
