Disney First Studio to $2B Global; Mortal Kombat II Opens $63M
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- The Devil Wears Prada 2 dominated its sophomore frame with $118.8M globally ($43M domestic, $75.8M international in 51 territories), lifting its worldwide cume to $433.2M and surpassing the original 2006 film's $326.5M lifetime gross.
- Disney became the first major studio to clear $2 billion at the 2026 worldwide box office, riding Prada 2 alongside 'Hoppers' ($371.6M), 'Send Help' ($94M), and carryovers 'Avatar: Fire & Ash' and 'Zootopia 2.'
- 'Mortal Kombat II' opened to $63M worldwide (~$40M domestic, $23M overseas in 78 territories) on an $80M production budget — a miss against tracking's $50M bullish outlook, attributed in part to a last-minute date shift from October 2025 to May that forced a costly re-introduction campaign.
- The Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' crossed $577M globally after a $95M third weekend, pacing ahead of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' at the same point and already outgrossing that film's $216.7M domestic total.
- Amazon/MGM/Working Title's 'The Sheep Detectives' launched with $28M worldwide ($15.9M North America, $12.1M overseas in 75 territories), led by a $4.5M UK opening on 976 screens.
- Paramount's 'Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard & Soft' concert film opened to $20.1M globally ($7.5M domestic, $12.6M overseas in 56 markets), with 3D driving 86% of international ticket sales and Premium Large Format accounting for 26% of North America.
- North American box office for all titles hit $162.1M for the weekend per Comscore, up 89% year-over-year, with Mother's Day helping majors lift their domestic estimates.
Why it matters: Disney's $2B milestone shows franchise IP and a Prada 2 sequel — already clearing the original's lifetime — can still drive the theatrical engine, while MK II's $63M open against an $80M budget illustrates how date shuffles and audience recalibration are quietly eroding tracking-based expectations for event sequels. For exhibitors, the 89% YoY jump in total North American weekend grosses is the real headline: the marketplace itself is up, even as individual titles underwhelm.
