“Kung Fu Panda 2” Strong Overseas, Weak in US

The story of Kung Fu Panda 2‘s second weekend is much like its first: a success overseas and an underperformer in the US. Around the world, the film took in an estimated $40 million in its second frame, including $1.3 million in the United Arab Emirates, the highest-grossing animated opening in that country. Its overseas gross now totals $125M.

In the United States, it is the weakest performing DreamWorks movie in recent years. The film had a 49.9% drop in its second weekend, which is steep by DreamWorks standards. According to Box Office Mojo, audiences still avoided the 3-D version of Kung Fu Panda 2 in the second week, with only 44% of viewers choosing the enhanced imagery. Its $23.9 million weekend earnings pushed its domestic total to $100.4 million. For perspective, here are the second weekend drops and grosses for DreamWorks features in the previous three years:

(2010) Shrek Forever After: -38.9% ($43.3M)
(2010) Megamind: -36.7% ($29.1M)
(2010) How to Train Your Dragon: -33.7% ($29M)
(2009) Monsters vs. Aliens: -45.0% ($32.6M)
(2008) Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa: -44.5% ($35M)
(2008) Kung Fu Panda: -44.2% ($33.6M)