TRANSFORMERS 6: RISE OF THE BEASTS opening | Action films, 2018 to 2023 update | June 9 to 11, 2023 weekend
TRANSFORMERS 6: RISE OF THE BEASTS opening | Action films, 2018 to 2023 update | June 9 to 11, 2023 weekend
Opening weekend box office, charts and commentary
The current weekend: June 9 to 11, 2023
1) Transformers 6: Rise of the Beasts opening
- This is a very good domestic opening for a 6th episode action sequel, with strong foreign starts in most of the world. The weekend figure is above average for the genre, and the jump above the previous film’s opening is excellent. Foreign is where this and all pure action films make most of their money — you can see it below.
Transformers remains an elite series. Only seven other action franchises have generated six episodes. The first four Transformers did extremely well (#3 and #4 finished with over $1.1 billion worldwide), then it fell in its 5th episode in 2017, and again with the Bumblebee spin-off in 2018. #6 is growing now, with #7 scheduled for September 2024:
Episodes #6 and #7 are where action series either find new creative energy and extend their run (Mission: Impossible, Fast & Furious, Planet of the Apes), or start winding down (Terminator, Predator). Only James Bond lives forever.
2) Action films, 2018 to 2023 update
- Like the other big genres, action films were disrupted by the pandemic. Several key 2020 releases were pushed back to 2021, and production delays left 2022 thin. 2023 is a rebound year, with fewer titles, but big names: In addition to Transformers, John Wick 4 is finishing with around $430m ww, Fast X is heading toward $650m, and Mission: Impossible 7/Tom Cruise arrives on July 12.
Overseas business is strong because all audiences, in all countries, understand these over-the-top, visually-told stories about the forces of good vs. evil. Currently, Fast X is running at approx. 80% foreign BO — that’s impressive:
We haven’t had a big new action hero and series in some time. John Wick is the biggest/most recent. The genre is by no means dying — many of the series are doing very well — but action movies are not regenerating and renewing as frequently as superheroes, animation and horror have been.
- Next weekend’s openings include The Flash/DC Comics and Elemental/Pixar — both important releases, for a lot of reasons.