'Warcraft' Continues International Wins

In the United States, there are some worries that Warcraft, the big-budget film version of the video game franchise, will not be a big hit, but those worries don't apply to the film's performance abroad. In the movie's second weekend, it continued to do well in international markets, and it may very well be declared a success even if it fails to post big numbers in the U.S.

Warcraft debuted over Memorial Day weekend and raked in $31.8 million in 20 international markets. Last weekend, the film bowed in eight more markets and took in another $29 million, bringing its total gross to $69.7 million. The film has yet to premiere in China, where ticket pre-sales are making it look like a blockbuster in the making; there is speculation that the film's opening-weekend gross there could range between $100 and $150 million.

The buzz may help to bolster the film's prospects at home. It is one of the most-talked-about films on social media at the moment, and predictions that have its domestic opening-weekend gross falling around $35 million might turn out to be a significant underestimate. In the end, it may not matter, though, if the film's international performance can make it a hit without the help of American audiences.