BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures and Tencent Pictures’ global blockbuster “Kong: Skull Island” has crossed the $500 million mark at the worldwide box office, it was announced today by Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Mary Parent, Vice Chairman, Worldwide Production for Legendary.
The acclaimed action adventure—certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes—opened at the top of the domestic box office on March 10, and has grossed more than $150 million, and climbing.
Internationally, “Kong: Skull Island” was released day-and-date in 65 markets, including Vietnam, one of the movie’s primary filming locations, where it has become the highest-grossing picture of all time. Hugely successful openings followed in Japan, as well as China. Continuing to demonstrate broad appeal that transcends borders, “Kong: Skull Island” has earned more than $358.7 million in the international marketplace, for a combined worldwide total of approximately $509 million.
In China, where “Kong: Skull Island” is being distributed directly by Wanda-owned Legendary, the film is expected to become one of the top 10 English-language releases of all time.
In making the announcement, Kroll stated, “‘Kong: Skull Island’ has taken audiences and critics on a thrilling ride, resulting in strong word-of-mouth and repeat business. These tremendous results speak not only to the powerful legacy of this mythic icon but also the crowd-pleasing monster movie director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, his cast and fellow filmmakers have delivered. We congratulate them and our partners at Legendary Pictures and Tencent Pictures on reaching this benchmark.”
Added Parent, “‘Kong’ reaching this global milestone is fantastic news for the movie. We’re also thrilled to have another firmly established cornerstone in our goal of creating a Monsterverse that will bring some of the world’s most iconic creatures back to the big screen with a contemporary style that resonates with moviegoers across the globe. The film’s success to date in China also underscores Wanda and Legendary’s commitment to delivering content that will drive moviegoers across the region to the theater.”
From the producers of “Godzilla” comes “Kong: Skull Island,” a compelling, original adventure directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts (“The Kings of Summer”). The film tells the story of a diverse team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers uniting to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific, as dangerous as it is beautiful. Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden in which humanity does not belong.
“Kong: Skull Island” stars Tom Hiddleston (“The Avengers,” “Thor: The Dark World”), Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson (“Pulp Fiction,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron”), John Goodman (“Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “Argo”), Oscar winner Brie Larson (“Room,” “Trainwreck”), Jing Tian (“Police Story: Lockdown”), Toby Kebbell (“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”), John Ortiz (“Steve Jobs”), Corey Hawkins (“Straight Outta Compton”), Jason Mitchell (“Straight Outta Compton”), Shea Whigham (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Thomas Mann (“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”), with Terry Notary (“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”) and Oscar nominee John C. Reilly (“Chicago,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”).
Vogt-Roberts directed “Kong: Skull Island” from a screenplay by Dan Gilroy and Max Borenstein and Derek Connolly, story by John Gatins. Thomas Tull, Mary Parent, Jon Jashni and Alex Garcia produced the film, with Eric McLeod and Edward Cheng serving as executive producers.
The creative behind-the-scenes team included director of photography Larry Fong (“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”), production designer Stefan Dechant (supervising art director “True Grit,” “Avatar”), Oscar-nominated editor Richard Pearson (“United 93,” “The Bourne Supremacy”) costume designer Mary Vogt (the “Men in Black” films) and composer Henry Jackman (“Captain America: Civil War”). The team also included Oscar-winning makeup supervisor Bill Corso (“Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) and supervising stunt coordinator George Cottle (“Interstellar,” “The Dark Knight Rises”). Kong was brought to life by Industrial Light & Magic, with two-time Oscar winner Stephen Rosenbaum (“Avatar,” “Forrest Gump”) serving as senior visual effects supervisor, and Oscar-nominee Jeff White (“The Avengers”) as visual effects supervisor.
Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures and Tencent Pictures present a Legendary Pictures Production, a Jordan Vogt-Roberts Film, “Kong: Skull Island.” The film is being distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. It has been rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for brief strong language.
