LOS ANGELES — Harry Potter’s spell on moviegoers is proving more effective overseas.
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” the latest installment in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World series, opened to a franchise low in the U.S. and Canada this weekend while posting robust returns in international markets.
The movie from AT&T Inc.’s T, +0.56% Warner Bros., starring Eddie Redmayne and Ezra Miller, collected an estimated $62.2 million stateside, about 16% below the 2016 debut of the original “Fantastic Beasts.” Overseas returns, however, added $191 million for a worldwide tally of $253 million.
The Harry Potter series has always generated international returns exceeding domestic grosses, one of several major franchises across Hollywood with such a lopsided dynamic. The original “Fantastic Beasts” went on to gross $234 million domestically and an additional $580 million abroad.
Two other new releases arrived to middling returns. “Instant Family,” a comedy about foster parents starring Mark Wahlberg, collected a so-so $14.7 million. It was released by Viacom Inc.’ VIA, +2.49% aramount Pictures. “Widows,” a critically acclaimed heist thriller from 21st Century Fox Inc.’s FOX, -0.13% Twentieth Century Fox, starring Viola Davis as a woman who must complete a robbery her deceased husband left unfinished, collected a tepid $12.3 million.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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