StudioCanal celebrates the company’s biggest opening weekend at the Irish box office with Paddington 2, fully financed by the studio in partnership with Heyday Films.
Paddington 2 opened across 96 sites, the company’s widest ever release in Ireland, boasting a screen average of over €9,000 and a weekend total of €830,000. The opening gross is an incredible 159% increase from Paddington’s opening box office in 2014.
The politest bear from Peru is number 1 at the Irish box office, an incredible result for StudioCanal’s most ambitious production to date. The film accounted for 43% of this weekend’s gross box office.
STUDIOCANAL Chairman and CEO Didier Lupfer said:
“I am so delighted to celebrate the company’s biggest and widest release to date with the opening weekend figures of PADDINGTON 2. The #1 opening represents a significant milestone for us and we can’t wait to spread Paddington’s contagious message of kindness worldwide as the film continues its global roll out.”
STUDIOCANAL UK CEO Danny Perkins adds:
“We are thrilled that the public have taken this incredible film to heart and have responded with such warmth and joy to Paddington’s return to the big screen. The response from audiences and critics has been remarkable.”
Paddington 2 is based on the best-selling and internationally adored series of children’s stories by Michael Bond and is once again directed by BAFTA nominee Paul King, from a script by King and Simon Farnaby. The film is produced by multi award-winning David Heyman.
Karen Jankel’s, daughter of the late Michael Bond CBE said:
“It was hard to imagine how Paddington 2 could be as wonderful as the first film but it has actually surpassed it. I found myself laughing from beginning to end, not to mention reaching for the odd tissue. As my father wrote on Paddington’s label when he created him all those years ago, ‘Please Look After This Bear, Thank You’. I’m delighted to say that everyone involved in making Paddington 2 has followed those instructions to the letter.”
Paddington 2 opens in StudioCanal territories - Germany November 23, France December 6 and Australia and New Zealand on December 26.
Element Distribution are responsible of distribution on behalf of StudioCanal in Ireland.
