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Disney's Alice in Wonderland Passing $1 Billion at Box Office
by Alex Billington
May 27, 2010
Whoa! As of May 27th, Disney's Alice in Wonderland has officially become the sixth movie in cinema history to ever make over $1 billion in the global box office. The only other movies that have achieved that kind of success (in order starting at #1) are: Avatar, Titanic, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, and The Dark Knight. This is a bit of surprise to me because I stopped following Alice in Wonderland's box office and I didn't even realize it was coming this close to breaking any records. I'm considerably impressed and I guess Johnny Depp really did help this become a record breaker.
Most of its immense success comes from the overseas market. Alice in Wonderland has only earned around $332 million domestically in its box office run in the US, taking in the remaining $667 million from the international markets. When it opened in March it set the record for the biggest March opening ever at $116 million (for its opening weekend). In Japan it ran for six straight weeks in a row at #1. I knew it had a lot of buzz before it opened, but I didn't know it had enough to eventually push it up to $1 billion - so congrats to Disney for pulling this off! Although some may say that this doesn't really mean much, it is still big news.
It couldn't have been coordinated any better, as Disney is releasing Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland on DVD and Blu-Ray in the US next week. I guess this proves that those threats to boycott Alice in Wonderland from theaters in Europe over a shortened "release window" were apparently nothing more than idle threats - because they still rocked the box office. Although I should also point out that out of the six $1 billion movies, three of them hit that point in the last three years. Maybe it's just the result of inflation and 3D ticket prices? Whatever the case, there's still no denying that Alice in Wonderland is now a hugely successful worldwide hit.
25 Comments
1
I seriously did not see this coming
Duck on May 27, 2010
2
Iam SO happy for Johnny ,he deserves it!!And disney should be very proud of him,becouse tanks to him disney has 3 blockbusters on the all time movies,the most succesful movies,!!oh and who can deny that is a record?? this is AMAZING,face it !!! And God bless Johnny!.,I love youuuuu
rachel on May 27, 2010
3
this is for disney...Alice in wonderland is a HUGELY SUCCESSFUL WORLDWILD HIT!!!!
rachel on May 27, 2010
4
When is a summer Blockbuster n0ot a summer blockbuster? When it comes out in March! Proof that audiences will lineup to see a big tentpole flick no matter when it comes out
Jeeze on May 27, 2010
5
I hate that we now compare 3D movies with older movies. It is not the same achievement at all! For me Titanic will allways, allways stand out of that list as the true deserver of the top spot, the movie tickets were way cheaper at that time! I wish someone would take the time to make the conversion, then we would see how far away it is from the others.
Ricardo on May 27, 2010
6
Titanic is no longer the most disappointing thing on that list.
Mike on May 27, 2010
7
Awesome I loved the movie.... I knew it was going to be a success... Miss the preimeres u did in Colorado u are awesome I'm in Florida Now well congrats to Disney now who is also my employer lol. I'm so happy this did well. This also proves critics don't have that much power of influence considering they hated it. Every one I talked to enjoyed this movie go pirates 2 and Alice. The only movie I can't stand on this list is pochontis.... I mean avatar talk about over rated sure it had awesome graphics but it was such a un original story line. Oh yeah so siked for this news!!!!!!
Mark on May 27, 2010
8
Those who are saying this is a good thing really need to go watch a REAL f'ing movies not this pile of crap. its a damn shame
Samson on May 27, 2010
9
Thats a waste of a perfectly good billion dollars
Steve on May 27, 2010
10
I wonder when Tim Burton plans on making another film without his lover and Helena Bonhem Carter
Jack on May 27, 2010
11
Those Who claim to like the series not this movie need to actually read the book it's a great sequel to it and it captures the zanyness and creepyness of the series read the book before u compare it to the cartoon one which also was great
Mark on May 27, 2010
12
Wow...just wow. I saw the movie, it sucked. I just don't understand the hype, or how it made that much money.
dove89 on May 27, 2010
13
#8 good call, this was just another tim burton jonny depp "edgy" film, couldnt stand it.
m.a.russell on May 27, 2010
14
And AIW should move past TDK by the end of the weekend and take over the #5 spot.
EJP on May 27, 2010
15
Avatar was the the pile of crap on this list. Basically Smurfahonits, Dances With Aliens or whatever showed us how much of a cock James Cameron really is. Thank God Katheryn Bigelow beat him at Oscars (although I would have perferred Quentin Tatantino winning).
Jeeze on May 27, 2010
16
I read the Japanese loved it, it was #1 at their box office six times in a row. WOW!
Lincoln on May 28, 2010
17
??? Domestic: $332,370,579 33.2% + Foreign: $667,700,000 66.8% = Worldwide: $1,000,070,579 How....how the hell.....but....it sucked!.....How.....???
David Banner on May 28, 2010
18
Great analysis Alex - agreed on all points. I also didn’t realise it was doing so well though I heard thte film itself wasnt that great. I guess the combination of timeless fairytale that all demographics are familiar with, a book full of imaginative settings & characters, a director with the visual prowess to bring those imaginative ideas to life, Johnny Depp and the 3D factor are a win-win scenario for Disney. I can imagine more updated 3D versions of classic family books will be put into production now!
Sumit on May 28, 2010
19
#17 Could be worse. Imagine if Transformers 2 crossed the billion dollar benchmark?
Jeeze on May 28, 2010
20
over in england,its coming out on blu-ray june 4th.
deadpool 72 on May 28, 2010
22
Alice in Wonderland may be the most successful film of Burton’s career, but it's also one of his worst, a demonstration of inert, lifeless filmmaking.
SlashBeast on May 31, 2010
23
i have to say i saw the movie and was less than impressed, gave it a 6/10 and left with a feeling of "meh..."
buggy on May 31, 2010
24
Great for Johnny Depp one of the best actors today, Transformers 2 sucks really, I hope the third will be better, I have heard someone from the Dark Knight will be enroll in the movie, that maybe change the things. Alice was not the best from Burton but was good better than Transformers 2!!!
George on May 31, 2010
25
^ Claiming that something is better than Transformers 2 is not exactly high praise.
Glass on Jun 1, 2010
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