The Walt Disney Co said on Thursday that the Chinese government has approved the release of Disney’s hit fantasy film “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” in China in spring 2006.
The film, based on the C.S. Lewis children’s book, was released earlier this month in U.S. and international markets and has earned more than $200 million in global ticket sales.
Disney recently released “National Treasure” and “The Incredibles” in China, which typically limits foreign film releases to about a dozen each year.
“Narnia” tells of four children in World War II London who are sent away to the country to avoid the Blitz. There they discover a wardrobe leading to a magical land inhabited by talking animals and other mythological creatures and ruled by a white witch.
The Narnia books are known among Christians as biblical allegory, and the film was largely embraced by U.S. churches.
Since its December 8 opening, the film has earned $200M+ in global box-office receipts and has achieved numerous Walt Disney Studios box-office records. With the Christmas holidays just beginning, “Narnia” looks to re-write box-office history in numerous territories. The following are some key highlights:
North America
Posted the second biggest December opening in industry history earning $65.5M from 3,616 theaters and the industry’s third biggest bow of 2005. Following this auspicious start “Narnia” has held exceptionally well ultimately crossing the $100M+ U.S. box-office mark in only nine days matching a TWDC company record for a live-action film. As of today “Narnia” has now earned more than $125M+ since beginning its domestic release on December 9th.
International Marketplace
Internationally “Narnia” has generated more than $85M since beginning its release on December 8 from only thirteen territories. Considering that the majority of these results were posted during the non-holiday play period, it is truly an exceptional performance. The following individual territory achievements are particularly noteworthy:
U.K.
Generated the biggest BVI UK of all-time surpassing Disney’s/Pixar’s “Finding Nemo‘s” debut by 20%.
SPAIN
Registered the fifth biggest opening in industry history (behind only “Torrente 3,” “Harry Potter 4,” “Star Wars 3” and “Lord of the Rings 3”) and the biggest ever for a non-sequel. Setting a new high for BVI Spain eclipsing Disney’s/Pixar’s “Finding Nemo‘s” start by almost 30%.
MEXICO
Posted a new all-time high for BVI in the territory exceeding Disney’s/Pixar’s “Finding Nemo” by almost 30%.
NEW ZEALAND
Posted the biggest non-sequel debut ever, the best ever for BVI and the fourth biggest, sequel or non-sequel, of all-time.
MALAYSIA
After only two weeks of release, the film is now the biggest BVI release ever in this territory.
