Sony’s release of directorRidley Scott’s slyly funny epic historical dramaNapoleoncame in ahead of expectations at the box office, helped in small part by thelucrative Thanksgiving weekend domestically. The movie grossed an estimated $32.5 million stateside across its extended five-day debut, and added a little over $46 million from overseas territories, for a global opening of $78 million.
Starring Oscar-winnerJoaquin Phoenixin the titular role, the biopic plays fast and loose with facts, focusing instead on delivering a character-first experience for fans.ReviewsforNapoleonhave been mixed, with the movie earning aborderline “fresh” 61% score on the review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes, and a B- CinemaScore from opening day audiences.Napoleonis the kind of movie that would need older audiences to show up over the next few weeks for it to make a strong enough commercial impression, but as things stand,the film is off to a good start.
It performed exceptionally well across Europe, where it generated $33 million in its opening weekend. Numbers from the Middle East were also strong, with the movie earning $2.3 million across the region. Mexico reported a $2.9 million debut, while Australia delivered $2.6 million.Produced on a reported budget of $200 million,Napoleonwill need to squeeze out every last dollar across the holiday period if it wants to perform better thanMartin Scorsese’s epicKillers of the Flower Moon.At the IMAX box office,Napoleonhas pulled in$9 millionfrom 723 screens across 74 markets over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Ridley Scott’s Last Five Movies
Global Gross
$78 million
House of Gucci
$153 million
The Last Duel
$30 million
All the Money in the World
$57 million
Alien: Covenant
$240 million
‘Napoleon’ is Off to a Better Start than ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’
Both movies were given lavish theatrical runs by Apple (in partnership with studios), essentially as marketing for their eventual streaming debuts. WhileKillers of the Flower Moonwas no doubt hobbled by its gargantuanthree and a half hour run timeand dense subject-matter,Napoleonis a comparatively populist experience with Scott at the helm. The filmmaker is known for his epic historical dramas, not all of which, however, have performed to the level of 2000’sGladiator. Scott will remain in the same zone for a while, witha sequelto that Oscar-winning film lined up as his next project.
Killers of the Flower Moonis looking to conclude its theatrical run with over $150 million worldwide, also against a reported budget of $200 million. TheLeonardo DiCarprio-led drama currently sits at$151.8 millionat the global box office. While it was never supposed to be a box office hit, its performance certainly shed a light on audience behaviors and appetites. Scott’s last historical drama, the mid-pandemic releaseThe Last Duel, bombed badly. ButNapoleonis out-performing his other 2021 release,House of Gucci, in like-for-like markets. Also starringVanessa KirbyandTahar Rahim, the movie is playing in theaters. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.
