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The big-budget action adventure has been
positioned as a key test of Holland's bankability outside of his
blockbuster success as Spider-Man. "Uncharted" has received
mixed reviews, at best, so it's safe to assume the 25-year-old
British actor had a healthy hand in selling tickets. It also
helps that "Uncharted" is rated PG-13 and based on one of the
most popular video games.
Directed by "Ruben Fleischer, who previously led Tom Hardy's
comic book tentpole "Venom" to box office glory, "Uncharted" is
expected to earn $52 million through Monday's President's Day
holiday. It's an impressive start in COVID times, but it doesn't
mean the film has an easy path to profitability. "Uncharted"
carries a $120 million price tag, so international ticket sales
will be key in getting out of the red.
To that end, "Uncharted" crucially landed a release date in
China, the world's biggest theatrical market. Visual
effects-heavy action-adventures, like "Uncharted," tend to play
well in China. But recently the country's censors have been
ultra-selective about letting Hollywood movies screen in its
movie theaters, and when the Chinese government does approve
non-local product, it's been a real mixed bag at the box office.
So the film's success in China remains to be seen. Since
"Uncharted" isn't opening in China until March 14, piracy could
be a concern.
Outside of China, "Uncharted" has been a favorite. Already, the
movie has earned roughly $55 million at the international box
office and has crossed $100 million globally.
"This is an excellent opening," says David A. Gross, who runs
the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research.
"Action adventures based on video games are big movies, and this
weekend's figure is nearly double the average for the genre. He
adds, "Budgets run high, so 'Uncharted' needs to connect in
every market. So far, it is doing that."
"Uncharted" follows the globe-trotting treasure hunter Nathan
Drake and his wisecracking partner Sully (Mark Wahlberg, who was
once attached to play Nathan Drake and since aged out of the
role) as they embark on a death-defying quest to uncover the
greatest treasure never found. Complicating matters, the
fearless explorers are racing against two baddies (played by
Antonio Banderas and Tati Gabrielle) to locate the fabled
fortunes. Audiences have awarded the film a "B+" CinemaScore.
"Uncharted" ruled over box office charts, but it wasn't the only
new nationwide release to beat expectations. Channing Tatum's
PG-13 canine adventure "Dog" landed in second place with $15.1
million, a great start for a film that's not based on comic book
characters or an existing film franchise.
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