Perhaps it was NASA’s announcement just a few days short of the debut – a pure coincidence according to the space agency – that its scientists had discovered evidence that water still flows in Mars’s valleys. It could have been also Ridley Scott’s direction, who
at 77 and after a few misfires, seems to have found the rhythm of films such as Alien and Thelma and Louise, or the presence of Matt Damon, in the lead of the film as a modern day Robinson Crusoe who takes us on a journey into outer and also into his inner space. What is certain is that after having earned very positive reviews The Martian, which also stars Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kate Mara, Michael Peña, Jeff Daniels and Kristen Wiig, can now be officially declared a box office success. In the domestic market, it did $55 million, way ahead of early forecasts and with an audience 72% over 25. The Martian is also the international champion of the week, grossing an extra $45 million out of 50 markets, for a global debut just north of $100 million. 10 of those millions came from the UK alone,
while Scott’s sci-fi movie did very well in diverse countries such as Australia, Hong Kong 
and Italy.
 
Major territories such as Germany, Russia and Japan have not had their opening. China’s opening date for The Martian has not been announced yet, but in the meantime the undisputed champ over there and number two globally is, by far, Lost in Hong Kong. Last week, the comedy directed by Zheng Xu had the highest debut ever for a Chinese film, with $107 million. By the end of the weekend, that number had almost doubled.
 
Back to the domestic market, number two over here was Hotel Transylvania 2. In its second week of release the animated feature added $33 million, for a North American total of
$90 million. Overseas, it added $20 million and the global total now stands at $150 million. The animated sequel is doing particularly well in Latin America, led by Mexico where it easily beat The Martian and where it is now close to $15 million. A welcome dose of good news for Sony Pictures, which will have to compensate for the disappointment of The Walk, about Philippe Petit’s high wire walk between the Twin Towers 40 years ago. With the majority of IMAX theaters all to itself Robert Zemeckis’ latest effort managed to get a mere $1.6 million, with projections for next week, when it will go into wider release, in the
$3 million range. The number three domestic placement went to Sicario, the very well reviewed drugs drama directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin. It grossed $12 million domestically, with overseas around the $10 million mark. But major markets such as the UK and Latin America, where is expected to do particularly well, have not opened yet.
 
Number 4 went to The Intern, that added $11.5 million in North America and has generated, so far, a global total of over $70 million.
To round up the top five, comes Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials. In its third week it has grossed $7.7 million and globally it crossed the $200 million mark. Johnny Depp’s Black Mass added $6 million, for a domestic total of $52 million and no overseas territories yet. Next came Everest, with $5.5 million, having been released in 65 territories, the mountaineering drama starring Jason Clarke, Jake Gylenhaal and Josh Brolin has managed to cross the $100 million bar internationally. 
Lorenzo Soria