Marvel Studios surely is reveling over the weekend success as "Doctor Strange" ended the week with $86 million in the box office.
According to Screenrant, the Benedict Cumberbatch-starrer has "largely been spared the forecasts of doom," as it fared very well, even in the international box office list. Playing as Dr. Stephen Strange, Cumberbatch played the role of an arrogant, skillful surgeon whose success was cut short because of a vehicular accident that cripples his hands.
Being fantasy in nature, "Doctor Strange" struggled a bit late at the domestic box office, however, it was so much anticipated overseas. Basing on films like "Warcraft" and "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children"' that present the same attack on genre and still reaped success, it is no surprise that "Doctor Strange" went off to a very strong start in the international markets.
"Doctor Strange" Box Office Update: IMAX Sales Knocked "Gravity" Off The Top Spot
Deadline reports that "Doctor Strange" earned a total of $86 million opening weekend all across 33 markets, with Korea having the biggest share of $18.1 million. It debuted about 49% ahead of Ant-Man, 37% ahead of Guardians of the Galaxy, and 23% ahead of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. "Doctor Strange" did not lay back on its IMAX opening as well, knocking off Gravity on its top spot with $7.8 million across 213 IMAX-available cinemas in 32 countries.
Perhaps, it is safe to construe that "Doctor Strange's" success can be credited to its well - marketed, visually mind-bending aesthetics.
"Doctor Strange" Box Office Update: More Expected In China, North America
Debuting this November 4 with a lot of speculations that it may plummet the box office, "Doctor Strange" will open in two of the largest film markets worldwide: North America and China. With China, all hopes are high as it has given a good figure for Warcraft at the Chinese box office.
For domestic box office, this is a different case. Although "Doctor Strange" has carved its way to the hearts of their international viewers, it will still have to be proven come November 4. Hopefully, Cumberbatch's charm and its notable visuals would be enough to win the audiences over.