At the NORTH AMERICAN box office, Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw starring The Rock and Jason Statham grossed $US 60 million in its first weekend. While the number isn’t too shabby in its own right, it’s still the lowest North American opening weekend of the franchise since 2006’s Tokyo Drift‘s $US 23.9 million. Fast and Furious (4), which brings back Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Michelle Rodriguez but doesn’t star The Rock raked in $US 70.9 million opening weekend. The fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth movie, which sees The Rock opposite and alongside the original cast of characters raked in $US 86 million, $US 97 million, $US 147 million and $US 98 million respectively. And then we have Hobbs & Shaw — the franchise’s first spinoff — which doesn’t star Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris and the rest of the gang. The Rock may have been the reason why people in North America started watching the Fast & Furious franchise again, but he may not be the reason why they stuck around. (Of course, it’s difficult to say for sure until we have a look a Fast & Furious 9‘s box office receipts next year. Fast & Furious 9 will be the first F&F movie since the fourth that doesn’t star The Rock.)
Outside of North America, Hobbs & Shaw grossed $US 120 million opening weekend, putting its opening weekend global total at approximately $US 180.8 million — a far cry from The Fate of the Furious’ $US 541.9 million and Furious 7‘s $US 397.6 million. There is one very important factor to keep in mind, though: Hobbs & Shaw is yet to open in China, a country in which this franchise is an immovable force of nature. Fast & Furious 6 grossed $US 66 million in China, which is a pretty big number. However, Furious 7 raked in a staggering $US 390 million there. And The Fate of the Furious? $US 392 million. The Rock may not be a box office magnet in North America, but over in China, it’s a completely different story. Even the Diehard ripoff Skyscraper grossed over $US 98 million in China, which is about one-third of its total global gross of $US 304 million. There is very little doubt in my mind that Hobbs & Shaw will rake in at least, $US 220 million in China by the end of its run. Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw is currently screening in Malaysian cinemas.
